Free will Vs Determinism

Question 2

Define the term determinism

Answer 2

Behaviour controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual.

Question 3

Define what is meant by hard determinism

Answer 3

All behaviour can be predicted as is out of our control → no free will (no internal process)

Question 4

Define what is meant by soft determinism

Answer 4

The idea that behaviour are to extend caused by internal or external factors but to some extent we still have some element of control over our behaviour/ actions.

Question 5

Define the term free will

Answer 5

Idea that humans are self deterring and free to choose their own behaviour → are able to overcome pressure

Question 6

Define the term fatalism

Answer 6

The belief that all events are predetermined and are inevitable.

Question 7

Identify the four types of determinism

Answer 7

1. Biological
2. Environmental
3. Psychic
4. Scientific

Question 8

Define what is meant by biological determinism

Answer 8

The idea that behaviours are caused by internal factors such as genes, neurochemistry and brain function.

Question 9

Give examples of biological determinism

Answer 9

Genetic research can suggest that our behaviours are determined by genes
* COMT and SERT in OCD
* IGF2R is a predisposition to intelligence
* MAOA gene and CDH13 gene in criminality
* Theoretical example - The dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia

Question 10

Define the term environmental determinism

Answer 10

Suggests that all behaviours are determined by previous experience including environmental events and socialisation.

Question 11

What approach does environmental determinism refer to ?

Answer 11

Behaviourist approach

Question 12

Give an example of environmental determinism

Answer 12

can link to aggression and eating behaviour
Learning theory
Differential association theory

Question 13

Define the term psychic determinism

Answer 13

Freud suggests that behaviour is determined by innate drives and early experience(internal and external) with no free will

• If any interruption in the stages of development may result in particular adult behaviour ie if infant is underfed in oral stage they become excessively trusting and dependent

Through psychosexual development stated there was determines behaviour long term due to these key stages in which he describes.

Question 14

Define what is meant by scientific determinis

Answer 14

All behaviour has a cause → an IV is manipulated to see the effect on the DV

• If there is a change → logically infer a causal relationship which allows us to come up with general laws and control future events → allows scientific credibility

In order for causation in this way - extraneous variable must be controlled (lab experiment)

Question 15

define the term self - determination

Answer 15

Individual takes on an active role in controlling their behaviour

Question 16

If an individual is acting off of free will what would you expect the behaviour to be like.

Answer 16

Behaviour won’t be linear and predetermined so will behave in random unpredictable ways.

Question 17

Define moral responsibility

Answer 17

an individual is in control of their own actions → as are able to exercise free will. All humans are held responsible for their actions,regardless of innate factors or early experiences.

Question 18

Define the humanist approach

Answer 18

argue self - determinism is necessary part of behaviour and without this self-actualisation and self-development is not possible.
Bring in Maslow – link to approaches

Question 19

What does Roger state about free will

Answer 19

claims if an individual is controlled by other people or things will not take responsibility and therefore cannot change their behaviour.

Question 20

What are the strengths of determism ?

Answer 20

• Scientific determisim real world application
• Supporting research for environmental determinsim

Question 21

Explain the strength of scientific determinism having real world application

Answer 21

relies on determinism
* Has lead to development of treatments that benefit individuals
Drugs to manage OCD / schizophrenia
Counter-conditioning techniques in phobia therapy

• In terms of mental illnesses behaviour does appear determines - positive implications
  Real world application / research value

Counter eval - Efficient with the drugs and mostly effective may not treat the root cause → reductionist other factors to influence

Question 22

Explain the supporting research of both environmental and biological determinism

Answer 22

Role of both is emphasised

Bandura’s study of aggression children showed model’s behaviour influenced the children but boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression,

• Perhaps suggesting that both a biological and environmental determinism are contributing factors

Gave an understanding of the environmental determinism

Question 23

What are the limitations of determinism (3)

Answer 23

1. reductionist
2. biological determinsim - too focussed on genetics
3. issues in the criminal justice system

Question 24

Explain the determism evaluation of reductionist approach

Answer 24

Does not give the entire picture concordance rates are merely ever 100% suggesting an alternative factor is influencing (environmental)

• Link to Psychopathology - OCD explanation
  The identical twin studies not 100% concordance rate only 68% even though 100% similar

Question 25

Explain the biological determinsim - too focussed on genetics evaluation

Answer 25

If solely focussing on genetics → ignoring wider implications

• If we accept disorders are caused by genes → there is little we can do to help it
• SO in a fatalist way may lead to people to overlook their control within the situation and ignore alternative approaches

Ie → going straight to drug therapy may ignore CBT
SO the determinism may have negative implications

Question 26

Explain the issues in the criminal justice system (determinism) evaluation

Answer 26

There have been attempts for criminal cases to say their behaviour was determined by inherited general tendencies

E.g mobley killed people but claimed he was born to kill + given a death sentence

The determinist viewpoint would be undesirable as it provides an excuse.

Determinism can have negative implications within the criminal justice system →a more holistic approach to the individual should be required

IT can act as an excuse

Question 27

What are the strengths of free will

Answer 27

• face validity

Question 28

Explain the face validity strength of the free will debate

Answer 28

Life experiences show that we have free will → as we make sorts of decisions daily
* When to get up
* What to wear
* What to eat
As this makes sense so we could say free will has face validity -

research also supports the concept those with internal LOC are mentally healthy and are more proactive in their lives

Question 29

What are the limitations of the free will aspect of the debate

Answer 29

Skinner argued behaviour is better explained by reinforcement history (learning and experience)

Further evidence comes from Libet
Found brain activity in the motor cortex before ppts had conscious awareness of choosing to move there finger

They found that the choice may be due to a predetermined event → scientific credibility to predisposition

Question 30

What is the study that critiques the view that free will is an illusion.

Answer 30

SOme studies to agree tho
Trevena and Miller
Found brain activity preceded decisions but concluded that ‘readiness to act’ rather than a decision to move

This undermines the empirical challenge to free will