Free Will V Deteminsim

Question 1

What is meant by free will?

Answer 1

The notion that humans can make choices and their behaviour/thoughts are NOT determined by external forces.

Question 2

What is meant by determinism?

Answer 2

The notion that all behaviour is caused by internal or external forces and so is predictable.

Question 3

Give an example of an external force which determines behaviour.

Answer 3

Classical and operant conditioning

Question 4

Give an example of an internal force which determines behaviour.

Answer 4

Hormones

Question 5

What are the types of hard determinism?

Answer 5

Biological, Environmental and Psychic

Question 6

What is meant by biological determinism?

Answer 6

The idea that all human behaviour is innate and controlled by genes, hormones etc.

Question 7

What is meant by environmental determinism?

Answer 7

The idea that all human behaviour is caused by forces outside the individual.

Question 8

What is meant by psychic determinism?

Answer 8

The idea that all human behaviour is caused by a successful/unsuccessful identification with the same sex parent - also directed by innate drives and unconscious conflicts repressed from childhood.

Question 9

What is meant by hard determinism?

Answer 9

The idea that all human behaviour has a cause and it should be possible to identify this cause and describe it.

Question 10

What is meant by soft determinism?

Answer 10

The idea that human behaviour has a cause however, people have some conscious mental control over how they behave.

Question 11

How does hard determinism view free will?

Answer 11

Views free will as an illusion.

Question 12

Give an example of soft determinism in psychology.

Answer 12

Social learning theory

Question 13

How is determinism scientific?

Answer 13

-Places scientific emphasis on causal explanations.
-Main principle of science is that every event has a cause which can be discovered + explained.

Question 14

What is meant by the illusion of free will? (Skinner)

Answer 14

-Deciding between two courses of action is not free will as, we are conditioned to choose one over the other.

Question 15

What are two strengths of the free will vs determinism debate?

Answer 15

1. Free will has high face validity as it makes cognitive sense.
   Robert’s et al: adults with strong belief in fatalism were at great risk of depression.
   Further research - internal locus of control (belief in free will) people are more healthy.
   Shows we exercise free will through choices we make.
   Therefore, believing in free will has a positive impact on the mind.
2. Determinism is consistent with aims of science.
   Notion that behaviour is orderly + obeys laws means psych can be considered scientific.
   Led to beneficial treatments which predict behaviour e.g psychotherapeutic drug therapy
   Therefore, prediction and control has beneficial implications *NOT REAL LIFE APP

Question 16

What is one weakness of the free will vs determinism debate?

Answer 16

1. Some inconsistencies with determinism stance in everyday life.
   Stance not consistent with legal system e.g offenders held responsible for actions despite having no control.
   Shows offenders, whose actions are biologically/environmentally determined are held responsible.
   Therefore, approach may not be as scientific as it first appears as, position may serve as an excuse in the CJS.