Issues and Debates

Question 1

What is the theory of free will?

Answer 1

Free will suggests that all people are able to choose and control their own behaviour

Question 2

Free will AO3

Answer 2

• Emphasises the importance of the individual
• Fits societies view personal responsibility (crime)
• Free will is subjective (some argue it does not exist)
• Free will cannot be scientifically proved or disproved

Question 3

What is the theory or determinism?

Answer 3

Determinism suggests that all human behaviour is pre-determined, and that it occurs through influence instead of choice

Question 4

What are the different forms of determinism?

Answer 4

Environmental - behaviour is influenced by the environment (supported via research by B.F Skinner)

Biological - our biological nature governs our behaviour through the nervous system

Psychic - unconscious motivation governs our behaviour (outlined by Freud’s psychodynamic approach)

Hard determinism - suggests that free will is a complete illusion, it does not exist at all and all human behaviour is pre-determined by existing factors

Soft determinism - suggests a middle ground of free will and determinism. Outlining how both can take place at once through cognitive function and influence

Question 5

Determinism AO3

Answer 5

• Determinism is a plausible explanation for human behaviour and is supported by scientific studies such as Skinners research into social influence
• It is a reductionistic explanation as it underestimates human individuality and uniqueness
• Hard determinism would mean that criminals are not technically responsible for their actions. As they have not cognitively decide to commit a crime

Question 6

Define the nomothetic approach

Answer 6

The nomothetic approach looks at similarities in human behaviour

Question 7

Nomothetic approach AO3

Answer 7

• Shows similarity in human behaviour, which allows us to make assumptions on patterns in human behaviour
• Scientific (many studies in generalised human behaviour exist e.g. Milgram, Zimbardo, etc)
• Looses sight of the “whole person” as all assumptions made with this approach are generalisations to humans as a whole, not to individual people

Question 8

Define the idiographic approach

Answer 8

The idiographic approach studies how behaviour is unique between people

Question 9

Idiographic approach AO3

Answer 9

• Focuses on the individual, does not make generalisable assumptions about human behaviour
• Resource consuming (studying one person in depth compared to a group of people provides a large opportunity cost)

Question 10

What is the ethical concern that comes with the Idiographic approach?

Answer 10

By studying for differences in human behaviour, the results found can have a negative affect on a group of people. Even if the study is perfectly ethical under the guidelines outlined by the BPS.

An example would be if a study was to find that people of colour had an average lower IQ than white people. Despite the study itself being ethical, it would have a negative affect on people of colour as it would reinforce racial stereotypes

Question 11

What did Seiber and Stanley outline in 1988?

Answer 11

Seiber and Stanley outlined that researchers should avoid conducting “socially sensitive research.” Essentially, researchers should avoid conducting any form of SSR as it will have a negative effect on:

• the social group being studied (race, gender, etc)
• the friends or relatives of those being studied
• the research team themselves
• the institution where the research took place