Free Will Vs Determinism Flashcards

1
Q

What is meant by determinism?

A

D: human behaviour is a a physical event that is caused
Hard= no action or behaviour is free
Soft= people’s behaviour a direct result of environment but to an extent
I: ✔️quantitaive data
✖️ no casual relationship found
A: behaviourist
M: lab experiment

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2
Q

Research that takes the deterministic approach

A

Biological:
•Bruner: aggression caused by mutation in X-chromosome
•Maguire: memory caused by size of hippocampi

Environmental:
•Bandura: observing aggression causes it
•Pavlov’s dog: association with meat caused salivation

Psychic:
•Freud: internal unconscious processes caused behaviour
•Y&S: maladaptive thoughts caused criminality

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3
Q

Research that takes the free will approach

A
  • MILGRAM?: could decide to take part or not
  • WAKEFIELD: students could decide whether to smoke or not
  • PILIAVIN: witnesses could decide whether to help or not
  • KOHLBERG: can decide whether to accept moral development stage
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4
Q

Strengths of deterministic?

A

✔️Allows for cause and effect to be established
E.g Milgram: NAZIs performed horrific acts coz under authoritative figure

✔️ Identifying negative causes of behaviour= can be tackled
E.g knowing people respond to authoritative figures

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5
Q

Weaknesses of deterministic?

A

✖️Inconsistent with society on a legal basis
E.g people held responsible for actions+sent to prison, was it their fault?

✖️ Suggests behaviour is beyond the control of the individual, reductionist?
E.g Milgram: can experimenter be the only cause of PPs behaviour?

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6
Q

Strengths of FW?

A

✔️ Embraces uniqueness of individuals in society

✔️ Fits with societies views of humans being responsible for their own actions

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7
Q

What is meant by FW in psychology?

A

D: humans have the choice to make their own decisions
I: ✔️gives insight into people’s opinions
✖️social desirability
A: individual differences
M: self report= gives PPs choice

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8
Q

What is the humanistic approach?

A

Believes humans are unique and free to plan their own actions and ultimately their own destiny.

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