Free Will/Determisism Flashcards
What is the freewill side of the debate about?
means that we are able to choose how we behave and have control over our actions
What is the Determinism side of the debate about?
suggests that behaviour is outside of our control. It may be influenced by our biology, upbringing, environment, other people around us or the situation we are in at the time
How does Piliavin relate to free will?
people chose to help the victim and weighed up the costs and benefits of helping before intervening
How does Bocchiaro relate to free will?
participants chose whether to write a letter recommending an unethical piece of research or not, and whether to report the study to the ethics committee
How does Lee relate to determinism?
people’s judgements about right and wrong were influenced by the culture they grew up in
How does Milgram relate to determinism?
people were highly influenced by the authority figure and the situation (Yale university, the fact they were paid, etc.)
What are the strengths of claiming that behaviour is due to free will?
Not socially sensitive as people can be held accountable for their behaviours (e.g. criminals)
Useful – it can motivate people to change their behaviour (improving their lives)
What are the strengths of claiming that behaviour is determined?
Open to positive uses – if we know what causes a wanted behaviour, we can make the behaviour occur again
It is scientific as determinist explanations often arise from controlled experiments in which cause and effect has been established
What are the weaknesses of claiming that behaviour is due to free will?
Hard to prove: what seems like ‘free will’ could just be a response to a different (perhaps unknown) determinant
It suggests no predictability or pattern to behaviour, reducing the usefulness of psychological research
What are the weaknesses of claiming that behaviour is determined?
Can be socially sensitive if it suggests people have no control over their behaviour
Could be open to negative uses (e.g. being used to take away responsibility for individuals’ actions if they have committed a crime, etc.)
