Isssues And Debates Flashcards
What is free will
The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biologically or external forces
What is determinism
The view that an individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal and external forces rather than individuals will to do something
What is hard determinisms
Implies that free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal or external events beyond our control
What is soft determinism
All events have causes but behaviour can also be determined by our conscious choices in the absence of coercion
What is biological determinism
The belief that our behaviour is caused by biological influence we can’t control
What is environmental determinism
The belief that our behaviour is caused by features of the environment we cannot control
What is physics determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control
What is holism
An argument of theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an individuals system rather than its constituent parts
What is reductionism
The belief that human behaviour is best understood by studying the smaller constituent parts
What is biological reductionism
A form of reductionism which attempts to explain behaviour at the lowest level (in terms of gene)
What is environmental determinism
The attempt to explain all behaviour in terms of stimulus response through links that have been learned through experience
What is nature-nurture debate
Concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics
What is heredity
The genetic transmission of both mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another
What is the environment
Any influence on human behaviour that is non genetic
What is interactionist approach
A way of explaining the development of behaviours in terms of a range of factors including biological and psychological ones
What is free will
Behaviour is governed by our choices (humanistic approach)
What is determinsims
Our behaviour is shaped by external and internal factors
What are the two forms of determinisms
Soft
Hard
What is hard determinism
All elements of our behaviour are determined so exclude any possibility of free will
What is soft determinsims
Some elements of our behaviour are determined and the rest is open to free will
What is biological determinism
The belief our behaviour is determined by biological influences such as genetics, neurotransmitters and hormones
What are examples of biological determinism
OCD/schizophrenia/aggression
What is environmental determinism
Our behaviour is determined by the environment
What are examples of environmental determinism
Phobias
