I and D: free will vs determinism

Question 1

define free will

Answer 1

suggests humans can make own choices and are not determined by internal or external forces

Question 2

define determinism

Answer 2

we have no choice over our actions
they’re determined by internal and external forces

Question 3

explain hard determinism

Answer 3

sees free will as an illusion
every event has a cause
behaviour is governed by internal and external forces

Question 4

explain soft determinism

Answer 4

William James: behaviour and traits are governed by internal and external forces to an extent but we have some control over our behvaiour

Question 5

types of hard determinism

Answer 5

• biological: governed by genetics, hormones and involuntary influences that we can’t control
• environmental: governed by environmental factors like punishment and reward that we can’t control
• psychic: behaviour is governed by unconscious conflicts that we repressed in childhood

Question 6

explain scientific emphasis on causal explanations

Answer 6

determinism allows for a c and e relationship > it suggests behaviour is governed by internal or external forces
allows us to test behaviour with lab experiments
allows us to establish general laws on human behaviour

Question 7

AO3: case against determinism

Answer 7

psychologists often reject determinism as it provides potential excuse for criminal actions

eg: in 1981 Stephen Mobley argued he was ‘born to kill’ after killing a pizza shop manager > said his family had disposition towards violent aggressive behaviour
court rejected this and gave him lethal injection

truly deterministic view is undesirable as it excuses crimes and removes responsibility
shows determinism is incompatible with law

Question 8

AO3: case for determinism

Answer 8

it’s consistent with aims of science
allows general laws to be established
prediction of behaviour has led to therapy and treatments
eg: SSRI’s used to manage SZ
conditions like SZ suggest the patient loses control of behaviour and has no free will, so some behaviours based on mental health are deterministic

Question 9

case for free will

Answer 9

has positive benefits for individuals
study by Roberts et al showed adolescents with strong beliefs in fatalism were at higher risk of depression
shows high degrees of internal locus of control is healthier
even if we don’t have free will thinking that we do has a positive impact

Question 10

case against free will

Answer 10

it allows people to feel control over their mental condition
removes a sense of helplessness and empowers people
creates stigma with things like addiction
blames them for disorders and suggests they have a choice