free will vs determinism Flashcards
free will definition
Free will is an individual’s ability to make decisions about their behaviour without the influence of external forces
determinism definition
Determinism proposes that all behaviours have a cause and thus human behaviour is predictable. our behaviour is influenced by internal and external influences over which we have no control.
5 types of determinism
hard soft biological environmental psychic
Biological determinism
Behaviour is caused by biological factors we can’t control
example of biological determinism
Research has suggested that behaviours and mental disorders can be inherited. For example, the COMT gene is associated with OCD which regulates the neurotransmitter dopamine. this variation of the gene means it is less active producing higher levels of dopamine
Environmental determinism
skinner described free will as an ‘illusion’ and argued behaviour was a result of conditioning
a form of hard determinism that believes behaviour is shaped by your reinforcement history.
Psychic determinism
Psychic determinism is when adult behaviour is determined by a combination of innate unconscious drives and early experiences.
freud Believes human behaviour is determined by unconscious conflicts repressed in childhood
strength for determinism -
consistent with the aims of sciences
determinism is consistent with the aims of sciences and gives psychology more credibility
therefore raises psychology’s status as a science
strength for determinism - real world application
determinism has led to developments in therapy & treatment, e.g. psychotherapeutic drug treatment in controlling schizophrenia
real world application adds validity to determinism
limitation of free will - evidence against from neurological studies
Benjamin Libet has demonstrated brain activity linked to making decision occurs earlier then we report consciously making the decision
researchers found activity related to pressing a button with left/right hand occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before partipcants report consciously making the choice
suggests when we experience free will its been decided by our brain before we’re aware of it
soft determinism
suggests that whilst people do have a choice, its constrained by internal and external factors
explain a limitation of determinism- not all behavior can be predicted
a problem with determinism is that a psychologist cannot always predict human behaviour with 100% accuracy due to the complex combination of variables that influence behaviour
explain how determinism simplifies human behaviour
human behaviour is complex and influenced by a number of factors such as cognitive factors which can override biological impulses
outline how determinism is beneficial for science
determinism is consistent with the aims of science. scientific and objective attempts are used to establish a cause and effect of human behaviour. The value of research has led to the development of treatments and therapies for people with mental disorders such as schizophrenia. sufferers experience a total loss of control casting doubt about the concept of free will
Explain how the concept of free will has good FACE VALIDITY
— In everyday scenarios, we appear to be making our own decisions. Therefore, the idea of free will has good face validity because we appear
to have free will in our day to day lives. however this may be an illusion of free will — A person may choose to do something but these choices are
determined by previous reinforcement history, as suggested by the behaviourist
approach. This is a hard deterministic stance.
