free will v determinism

Question 1

free will

Answer 1

masters of our own identity
individual is self-determining and able to make choices and therefore are responsible for their actions

Question 2

determinism

Answer 2

behaviour is controlled by either internal or external forces
means behaviour should be predictable

Question 3

soft determinism

Answer 3

all human action has a cause but people have freedom to make choices within a restricted range of options

Question 4

hard determinism

Answer 4

all human action has a cause and it should be possible to identify these causes

Question 5

biological determinism

Answer 5

the idea that a person’s genetics, hormones and brain structure determines their behavior and characteristics

Question 6

environmental determinism

Answer 6

the idea that the physical environment directly influences human activities, societies, and states

Question 7

psychic determinism

Answer 7

a theory that all mental processes are caused by unconscious mental processes and past experiences.

Question 8

scientific determinism

Answer 8

based on the belief that all events have a cause. an independent variable is manipulated to observe the causal effect on a dependent variable

Question 9

scientific determinism - synoptic

Answer 9

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

Question 10

synoptic - free will, point

Answer 10

The humanistic approach argues that human beings have free will and are active agents who determine their own development.

Question 11

synoptic - free will, evidence

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

synoptic - free will, explain

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

biological determinsim synoptic - point

Answer 13

The biological approach argues that much of our behaviour is determined by innate influences. For example, brain structure, genetics or hormones.

Question 14

biological determinsim synoptic - evidence

Answer 14

psychopathology, Nestadt et al. reviewed twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins.

Question 15

biological determinsim synoptic - explain

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

biological determinsim synoptic - however

Answer 16

However, as concordance rates aren’t 100%, there may be an environmental influence.

Question 17

environmental determinism synoptic - point

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

environmental determinism synoptic - evidence

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

environmental determinism synoptic - explain

Answer 19

This supports environmental determinism as it shows how criminal behaviour is learnt and can be repeated.

Question 20

psychic determinism synoptic - point

Answer 20

The psychodynamic approach argues that unconscious forces drive our behaviour and these are rationalised by our conscious minds.

Question 21

psychic determinism synoptic - explain

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

psychic determinism synoptic - evidence

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

soft determinism synoptic - point

Answer 23

Social learning theory argues that we are influenced by our environment and also extert some influence upon it.

Question 24

soft determinism synoptic - evidence

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

soft determinism synoptic - explain

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

strength of free will is it has practical value

Answer 26

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

Question 27

limitation of determinism is the role of responsibility in the law

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

strength of dterminism is that it has reserach support

Answer 28

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