Free Will vs Determinism

Question 1

(AO1) Free-Will

Answer 1

The idea that humans are free to choose their own thoughts and actions.

Question 2

(AO1) Hard Determinism

Answer 2

All human action is due to an internal and external force that we can’t control.

Question 3

(AO1) Soft Determinism

Answer 3

All human action has a cause BUT we have conscious mental control over our behaviour.

Question 4

(AO1) Biological Determinism

Answer 4

(The Biological Approach)

• Influence of autonomic nervous system on anxiety
• Genetic factors can determine behaviour
• Hormones can determine behaviour

Question 5

(AO1) Environmental Determinism

Answer 5

We think we are acting independently but our behaviour is shaped by environmental factors such as parents.

Question 6

(AO1) Psychic Determinism

Answer 6

Human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives (id, ego and superego).

Question 7

(AO1) Casual Explanations

Answer 7

Lab experiments let researchers simulate the conditions of the test tube and remove all extraneous variables to demonstrate a casual effect.