Free Will V Determinism Flashcards
What is determinism
An individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces, rather than their own will.
Internal Forces - could include bio factors, innate behavioural tendencies proposed by Freud/Psychodynamic approach or faulty thinking patterns (cog)
External Forces - could include learnt associations and stimulus response links (behaviourism), imitating role models
What is Free Will
Individuals have an active role in controlling their behaviour and are not controlled by biological or external.
The Humanistic approach is one of the few that proposes individuals have free will to control their own actions regardless of their internal or external pressures and are thus able to work towards self actualisation
What is Hard Determinism
All human behaviour has a cause and it is theoretically possible to identify and describe all these casual factors. This approach fits with the goals of science to establish universal laws governing behaviour. Hard determinism does not allow for any element of free will
What is Soft Determinism
Whilst all human behaviour may have a cause - individuals do have the capacity to make conscious choices about their behaviour. It suggests that although behaviour is predictable it is not inevitable. Individuals are free to choose their behaviour although this may be limited
What is Biological determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control. These influences could include genes, hormones, neurotransmitter levels, brain damage or evolutionary explanations for behaviour
What is Environmental determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by environmental influences that we cannot control. These influences could include stimulus response links (learned associations) or operant conditioning (consequences/SLT)
What is Psychic Determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control which may stem from early childhood. These influences could include the influence of the id on our behaviour or the influence of childhood trauma that have been repressed into the unconscious mind but continue to influence behaviour.
Evaluation of FW V D debate
- Determinism allows for a more scientific approach - more confident in establishing cause and effect behaviour
- Evidence from Neuropsychology that FW is a Fallacy. Chun Siong Soon found that brain activity occurs in brain 10s before p’s consciously aware
- D creates dilemmas for crimjust, as law rarely accepts determinist accounts of human behaviour as a legal defence - law promotes indiviual responsibility
- research suggests it is desirable to believe we have FW. Roberts - adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism were at greater risk of depression
Compromise to debate?
Interactionist approach
