Free Will & Determinism^ Flashcards
Free Will
humans can make a decision
not determined by bio/ external factors
Determinism
beh controlled by internal and external factors
Hard Determinism
no free will
beh always determined by factors outside of our control
Soft Determinism
some room for free will
people have a conscious mental control over beh
Biological Determinism
beh caused by bio influences
genes, hormones
(serotonin + depomine for depression)
Environmental Determinism
beh is caused by features of envi
(all types of beh are created by conditioning - “free will is an illusion”)
Psychic Determinism
beh is caused by unconscious conflicts
(no free will, slip of tongue all caused by unconscious mind)
Scientific Emphasis on Causal Explanation
scientific principle that everything has a cause and can be explained by laws (HD)
can help predict future events/beh
shows importance of determinism in supporting that psychology is a science
lab studies can be used to establish causal relationships
Practical Value
free will has practical value
exercise free will in our everyday life
- even if we don’t, thinking we are improves out mental health
Roberts et al
- studied teens with belief that their lives are determined by outside factors
- teens were more at risk to get depression
- those with external locus focus are less optimistic
Even if we don’t have free will, believing we do improves our mental health
Research Evidence
brain scans don’t support free will
Libet et al
- participant choose random times to flick wrist
- he measures brain activity
- p. had to say when they feel the conscious will to move
- unconscious brain activity leading up to conscious decision to move appeared around 0.5 sec before movement
Even our most basic experiences of free will are determined by our brain before we are aware
VS Research Evidence
Libet’s findings that the brain is involved is expected
the action comes before the conscious awareness to act, doesn’t mean there is no decision made
it takes time for the deciosion to reach the conscious mind
conscious awareness of the decision is read out from the unconscious decision making
Evidence is not appropriate as a challenge to free will
The Law
determinism limits the legal system on responsibility
individual choice in not the cause of beh
not consistent with how our legal system works
main principle is that the D exercises free will to commit a crime
In the real world, deterministic arguments don’t work
