Free will + Determinism Flashcards
determinism
= the view that behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces + free will is an illusion
– behaviour alway has a cause + so is predictable
hard determinism
= the view that forces outside our control (e.g. biology or experience) shape our behaviour + free will is an illusion
soft determinism
= the view that behaviour is constrained by environmental or biological forces but only to a certain extent + there is an element of free will
biological determinism
= idea that human behaviour is innate + determined by bio influences e.g. genetics (inc hormonal + neurochemical explanations)
environmental determinism
= behaviour is caused by external forces e.g. previous experience + learning through classical + operant conditioning
psychic determinism
= claims that behaviour is result of innate drives (e.g. ID, EGO + superEGO) + unconscious conflicts
free will
= the notion that humans have an active role + can make choices about how they behave
– behaviour not determined by internal or external forces
determinism - internal…
…e.g. bio factors like influence of genetics or hormones
determinism - external…
…e.g. role of parents in reinforcing behaviour
scientific emphasis on…
…causal relationships
– one of basic principles of science is that all events have a cause - knowledge of causes allow scientists to predict behaviour
scientific emphasis - in psychological research…
…lab experiment allows IV to be manipulated to observe causal effect on DV - EVs able to be controlled which enables psychologists to precisely predict human behaviour
hard determinism is…
…incompatible w/ free will
hard determinism - types…
- biological
- environmental
- Psychic
HD - biological approach…
…bio determinism
– family studies evidence a genetic vulnerability for developing psych disorders like OCD
– Nestadt et al’s twin studies - high concordance rates in identical twins demonstrating role of genetics causing OCD
HD - psychodynamic approach…
…psychic determinism
– Freud claimed child development occurs in 5 stages each w/ different conflict that child must resolve - unresolved conflicts leads to fixation + child carries behaviours into adulthood
HD - environmental - Skinner…
…environmental determinism
– BF Skinner proposed free will is an illusion + all behaviour is result of conditioning - behaviour can also be shaped by socialisation
HD - behaviourist approach…
… two process model suggests phobias acquired + maintained through conditioning
– Watson + Raynor showed this through Little Albert who showed acquisition of fear response learnt through classical conditioning
free will - behaviour is…
…self-determined - humans can choose their thoughts or actions + therefore have control over behaviour
free will - belief in FW…
…does not deny that internal + external forces contribute to behaviour but ultimately humans have choice over how to behave in response to these
FW - humanist approach…
…argue against determinism + claim humans have self-determination + FW + so behaviour cannot be a result of any single cause
– Carl Rogers + Abraham Maslow believe Indivs are in control of behaviour + are trying achieve personal growth
D - implication - consistent w/ features of a science…
…allows for manipulation of IV to see its effect on a DV to identify C + E - allows psychologists to adopt an objective approach though the drawing of causal relationship that can predict future behaviour
D - implication - bio determinism support
…by Libet et al - supports bio - motor regions in the brain become active even before individuals consciously registers awareness of their decision - behaviour bio determined + free will is an illusion
– HOWEVER… just bc action comes before conscious awareness doesn’t mean there is no decision to act
D - consequence - controversial (crime)…
…D is incompatible w/ conventional views on morality + legal system - many psychologists don’t favour D viewpoint because if view that external or internal forces determine behaviour is accepted it provides potential excuse for undesirable behaviours such as offending - e.g. Os in court use argument of predisposition to crime to mitigate their liability
D - consequence - individual…
…doesn’t account for indiv differences - by creating general laws of behaviour, deterministic psychology underestimates the uniqueness of human beings + their freedom to choose their own destiny
FW - implication - postive standpoint in psych…
…human subjective experience involves belief that we are in control of actions + behaviour - supported by humanism + the Positive psychology movement - has a positive influence of variety of methods adopted in therapy + counselling today - suggesting we are masters of our own behaviour + can choose to change
FW - consequence - illusion…
…FW is just an illusion - concept of FW has attracted criticism from psychologists - some like Skinner argued FW is an illusion + all behaviour is determined even if we are unwilling to admit it therefore validity of FW being real is questioned
– Qs validity + effectiveness of therapies + treatments developed that are based on assumption of FW
FW - consequence - impossible to test…
…its a non-physical vague concept that cannot be observed or quantified - concept cannot be falsified + as psychology is a science this idea is challenged by many who believe that if it’s not measurable, it doesn’t exist - means that resolution of D vs FW debate is not likely
