Free will & determinism Flashcards
free will
humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces
determinism
behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than ones will to do something
hard determinism
free will is not possible and behaviour is caused by internal and external events beyond our control
soft determinism
all events have causes but behaviour may also be determined by our conscious choices in the absence of coercion
biological determinism
behaviour is caused by biological (genetics, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control.
psychic determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control
environmental determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of rewards & punishment) that we cannot control
cognitive approach-determinism
soft determinism
humanistic approach-determinism
free will
biological approach-determinism
biological determinism
psychodynamic approach-determinism
psychic determinism
behaviourist approach-determinism
environmental determinism
social learning approach-determinism
soft determinism
Against determinism
psychologists, theorists and legal experts do not favour the deterministic point of view. If behaviour is influenced by outside factors then this could potentially be an excuse for criminal acts
Against free will
psychologists argue that free will is an illusion. Libet et al found motor regions of the brain become active before a person registers conscious awareness of a decision. actions are predetermined by the brain
