I&D- Free will and determinism Flashcards
define free will
free will is believing that humans control their own environment and are capable of change
define hard determinism
Hard determinism is believing that all behaviour can be PREDICTED and there is no free will
define soft determinism
Soft determinism is believing that behaviour is sometimes controlled by external factors but people do have elements of choice of how to behave (which is free will)
which approach links to Biological Determinism an define it
Biological approach
biological determinism means behaviour is controlled by internal biological factors
- for example- genes, hormones, neurotransmitters
which approach links to Environmental Determinism and define it
Behaviourist approach
Environmental Determinism means that behaviour is controlled by STIMULUS-RESPONSE Conditioning
for example- learned behaviour’s which links to soft determinism
which approach links to soft determinism and define it
Social Learning Theory approach
due to Soft Determinism meaning that behaviour is controlled by environmental forces but humans have personal responsibilities and free choices in how they act
which other approach links to Soft Determinism and how
Cognitive approach due to behaviour being controlled through Mediational Processes but can still choose what information they choose
which approach links to Psychic Determinism and what does it mean
The Psychodynamic approach
Psychic Determinism means behaviour is determined by unconscious drives and early childhood experiences
which approach links to free will and what does it mean
The Humanistic approach
Free will is that all humans control their own environment and are capable of changing their behaviour
How does scientific determinism effect behaviour
Use research in explanation
mention the three factors of scientific determinism
Scientific determinism- based on the belief that all events have a cause - Causal explanations - cause and effect relationships
Scientific determinism means that there will be a clear cause and effect relationship in behaviour eg, the cause in Harlow monkeys is the clothed mother being a source of comfort and the effect is the monkey formed an attachment
name the two main things in free will
1- the humanistic approach
2- having Moral Responsibility
define moral responsibility
Everyone is responsible for their own actions no matter what, even if they are innate factors or from early childhood experiences
AO3 -Limitation
Biological determinism can’t fully explain behaviour due to findings- other factors contribute
P- biological determinism can’t be the sole reason and determining factor of behaviour.
E- e.g Mz twins found 80% of them had similar intelligence scores
E- But twins share 100% of their genes, so other factors such as environment will make up the 20%. Therefore findings would be 100% if behaviour was solely biologically determined
L- Therefore showing that environmental factors contribute to behaviour
AO3
However- strength
determinism is scientific
eg. SZ
P- However- strength of determinism- it’s scientific
E- Research into prediciting human behaviour- led to development of treatment e.g. benefits SZ patients - where treatment helps to slow down their severity of symptoms
E- Shows how valuable research where there’s scientific proof, can positively impact human behaviour
L- However, treatments such as CBT is criticised for controlling their thoughts and actions- which some disagree with- due to free will
AO3
f____ w___ is an illusion
research by S
product of ……………
P- However, free will is believed to be an illusion, due to choice between two courses of action- isn’t free will
E.g Skinner argued this - suggesting that when we choose something, the initial choices you deciding between are predetermined
E- This is due to previous experiences that determine the choices
L- Therefore, free will has the illusion of choice but is instead a product of socialisation
E- This is because we think consciously that we made a decision up but it’s been made unconsciously (predetermined)
L- Therefore, illusion is made but makes people feel we have free will. But this is not falsifiable.
AO3
Hard determinism is used as an excuse for criminal acts
P- Determinist view- negatively viewed by legal experts
E- e.g Mobley argued - ‘was born to kill’ due to predisposition of aggression in family (rejected from court)
E- This means that Hard determinism= ‘excuse’ for criminals to avoid responsibility for their actions
L- Legal systems operate differently to hard deterministic views
