free will v determinism Flashcards
free will
masters of our own identity
individual is self-determining and able to make choices and therefore are responsible for their actions
determinism
behaviour is controlled by either internal or external forces
means behaviour should be predictable
soft determinism
all human action has a cause but people have freedom to make choices within a restricted range of options
hard determinism
all human action has a cause and it should be possible to identify these causes
biological determinism
the idea that a person’s genetics, hormones and brain structure determines their behavior and characteristics
environmental determinism
the idea that the physical environment directly influences human activities, societies, and states
psychic determinism
a theory that all mental processes are caused by unconscious mental processes and past experiences.
scientific determinism
based on the belief that all events have a cause. an independent variable is manipulated to observe the causal effect on a dependent variable
scientific determinism - synoptic
Harlow study on attachment - the IV was wire mother with milk or cloth, and the DV (attachment formed).
the result demonstrated that contact comfort, not food determined the formation or an attachment
synoptic - free will, point
The humanistic approach argues that human beings have free will and are active agents who determine their own development.
synoptic - free will, evidence
key approaches - Roger’s theory of Client-centred therapy is based on the assumption that all individuals have free will and are the masters of their own identities.
synoptic - free will, explain
supports free will view as the therapy is non-directive and encourages the individual towards the discovery of their own solutions and to make their own choices on how to achieve personal growth.
biological determinsim synoptic - point
The biological approach argues that much of our behaviour is determined by innate influences. For example, brain structure, genetics or hormones.
biological determinsim synoptic - evidence
psychopathology, Nestadt et al. reviewed twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins.
biological determinsim synoptic - explain
This supports biological determinism as it means that Mz twins are genetically similar (share 100% of their genetic make-up) and are more likely to share OCD, meaning it is biologically determined.
biological determinsim synoptic - however
However, as concordance rates aren’t 100%, there may be an environmental influence.
environmental determinism synoptic - point
The behaviourist approach argues that all behaviour is environmentally determined by external forces that we cannot control. For example, learning through stimulus and response in classical conditioning and maintaining the behaviour through positive/negative reinforcement in operant conditioning.
environmental determinism synoptic - evidence
In forensic psychology, differential association theory explains how offenders learn attitudes when they are exposed to certain values in a socialised group. They learn particular techniques to commit offences by interacting with people with pro-crime attitudes.
environmental determinism synoptic - explain
This supports environmental determinism as it shows how criminal behaviour is learnt and can be repeated.
psychic determinism synoptic - point
The psychodynamic approach argues that unconscious forces drive our behaviour and these are rationalised by our conscious minds.
psychic determinism synoptic - explain
This supports psychic determinism as it suggests that being raised with no father may have a negative impact on gender identity as they can’t resolve the Oedipus conflict without a same-sex parent, in line with what Freud’s theory would predict.
psychic determinism synoptic - evidence
In gender, Rekers and Morey rated the gender identity of 49 boys ages 3-11. 75% of those judged ‘gender disturbed’ had no biological or substitute father living with them.
soft determinism synoptic - point
Social learning theory argues that we are influenced by our environment and also extert some influence upon it.
soft determinism synoptic - evidence
In eating, children acquire food preferences of role models they observe eating certain foods, especially if the model is rewarded and the child identifies with them. Family influences are the most obvious because parents are ‘gatekeepers’ of children’s eating.
soft determinism synoptic - explain
This supports soft determinism as it shows how eating behaviour can be influenced and determined by role models but we can still choose to dislike foods.
strength of free will is it has practical value
Roberts et al looked at adolescents who had a strong belief in fatalism - events outside of their control decided their lives.
they were at greater risk of developing depression
people who inhibit internal locus of control are more likely to be optimistic
this suggests that even if we don’t have free will, the fact that we believe we do can have a positive impact on behaviour
limitation of determinism is the role of responsibility in the law
the hard determinist stance is not consistent with the way in which our legal system operates. in court, offenders are held responsible for their actions.
indeed, the main principle of our egalitarian system is that the defendant exercised their free will in committing the crime
this suggests that in the real world the determinist arguments do not work.
strength of dterminism is that it has reserach support
Libet et al asked participants to randomly flick their wrists and say when they felt the will to move. Brain activity was also measured
the unconscious brain activity leading up to the conscious decision to move came half a second before the conscious decision to move
this may mean that our most basic experiences of free will are actually determined by our brain before we are aware of them
