free will vs. determinism Flashcards
What is free will?
the idea that humans are free to act as they choose and should therefore be responsible for the outcomes of their actions
What is determinism?
the idea that humans lack control over behaviour as other factors which cannot be controlled are responsible
What are the two most common factors that are blamed for determinism?
- environment
- biology
What are the 4 branches of determinism?
1- soft determinism
2- hard determinism
3- environmental determinism
4- biological determinism
What is soft determinism?
the idea that humans still have the agency to make some decisions even though there are determining factors
What is hard determinism?
the idea that humans have no agency to choose at all and all choices are controlled by determining factors (complete opposite to free will)
What is environmental determinism?
the idea that behaviour is determined by factors outside of ourselves such as environmental stimuli and other people
What is biological determinism?
the idea that behaviour is determined by factors inside of ourselves such as genetics, hormones, and brain structure
What is a less often used type of determinism?
psychic determinism
What is psychic determinism?
the idea that past experiences and traumas determine behaviour in the present
What areas of psychology believe in total free will?
none
What areas of psychology believe soft determinism?
- social area
- cognitive area
- developmental area
- individual differences
What areas of psychology believe hard determinism?
- biological area
- behaviourist perspective
What is a causal relationship?
when there is a clear cause and effect
What are the practical applications for free will?
- punishments
- accountability
What are the practical applications for soft determinism?
- restorative justice e.g., community service
What are the practical applications for hard determinism?
support / treatment - lack responsibility
What are the weaknesses of free will?
hard to generalise = lacks usefulness due to individual differences
What are the strengths of free will?
more ethical - have full autonomy over own behaviour and decisions
What are the weaknesses of determinism?
- reductionist
- ignores individual differences
- cannot always predict behaviour
- removes sense of autonomy and responsibility
What are the strengths of determinism?
- cause and effect = practical applications
- more scientific - predictable behaviour = more valid
