Free Will & Determinism

Question 1

What is determinism?

Answer 1

The idea that traits and behaviours are outside our control due to internal or external factors over which we have no control

Question 2

Biological determinism

Answer 2

Traits and behaviours are governed by internal biological factors like genes

Question 3

Environmental determinism

Answer 3

Traits and behaviours are governed by external forces like experience and upbringing

Question 4

Psychic determinism

Answer 4

Traits and behaviours are governed by unconscious instincts and drives, rooted in childhood experiences

Question 5

Hard determinism

Answer 5

Traits and behaviours are entirely out of our control

Question 6

Soft determinism

Answer 6

Traits and behaviours are determined by internal or external forces but an element of free will is involved

Question 7

Strength of free will

Answer 7

• Face validity (eg. Everyday experience gives impression of free will + Roberts found adolescents with strong belief in fatalism/external LOC less likely to have depression)

Question 8

Limitations of free will & determinism

Answer 8

FW - Neurological studies (eg. Libet found brain activity in motor areas occurred up to 10s before p’s report being consciously aware of decision, implying free will is an illusion)
D - Inconsistency with legal system (eg. Mobley argued he was born to kill rejected as legal system operates on premise that individuals are morally and legally responsible)
D - Oversimplifies human behaviour (eg. Meta analysis found MZ twins have 80% concordance for intelligence, 40% for depression)