Free will-determinism

Question 1

What is free will?

Answer 1

The notion that humans can make choices and their behaviour/thoughts are not determined by either internal or external factors.

Question 2

What is determinism?

Answer 2

The view that an individuals behaviour is controlled by internal or external factors rather than their own will

Question 3

What is hard determinism?

Answer 3

The view that all behaviour is caused by something so free will is an illusion

Question 4

What is soft determinism?

Answer 4

The view behaviour may be predictable but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities.

Question 5

What is biological determinism?

Answer 5

The belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic/hormonal/evolutionary) influences we cannot control

Question 6

What is environmental determinism?

Answer 6

The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (e.g rewards and punishment).

Question 7

What is psychic determinism?

Answer 7

Belief behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control.