Issues and debates: Free Will and Determinism Flashcards
1
Q
What is determinism?
A
- view that an individual’s behaviour is controlled by internal (biological) or external forces -> means our behaviour should be predictable.
-> linked to the behaviourist, psychodynamic and biological approach.
2
Q
What is free will
A
- are free to choose our own thoughts and actions.
- This views humans as self-determining – they have an active role in controlling their behaviour and are not acting in response to any external or internal (biological) pressures.
- Linked to the humanistic approach.
3
Q
what is hard determinism
A
- Free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal and external events beyond our control.
- Principles of science - to uncover laws that govern thought and action
4
Q
what is soft determinism
A
- idea that behaviour/actions/traits are to an extent governed / dictated by internal/external forces.
- still have some element of control / some free will to control our behaviour.
5
Q
What is biological determinism (hard determinsm) and give some examples
A
- Definition: belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control.
- Examples:
- Neural and genetic explanations of crime behaviour.
- Mental health -> genetic bases.
6
Q
What is environmental determinism (hard determinism) and give some examples
A
- belief behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that we cannot control.
- Skinner “free will is an illusion”.
- Behaviourist approach
- Conditioning - choices are merely the sum
total of reinforcement contingencies.
-> token economy
7
Q
What is psychic determinism (hard determinism) and give some examples
A
- Definition: belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts we cannot control.
- Examples:
- Freud- biological drives and instincts.
- Determined and directed by unconscious
conflict - Maternal deprivation - Bowlby
8
Q
What is the cognitive approach to free will and determinism
A
- Behaviour is a result of both free will and determinism.
- Patterns in how the brain processes external information and what behaviours this leads to.
- also acknowledges that people use cognitive processes to reason and make decisions.
9
Q
Explain one example of the humanistic approach to free Will (Roger)
A
- Roger’s client-centred therapy.
- removal of psychological barrier leads to self-actualisation.
- Individuals are in control of their behaviour and are trying to achieve personal growth.
10
Q
Explain how scientific determinism makes an emphasis on causal explanations
A
- Scientific research based on the belief that all events have a cause.
- E.g. Harlow’s (1959) research on attachment involving an IV (wire mother with milk or cloth covered) and a DV (attachment formed).
-> result demonstrated that contact comfort, not food, determined the formation of an attachment. - Removal of extraneous variables to precisely control and predict human behaviour.
11
Q
(+) Explain the case for free will (Roberts)
A
- Everyday experience ‘gives the impression’ we are exercising free will on a daily basis, giving face validity to the concept.
- Roberts et al, (2000) found that adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism were at a significantly greater risk of developing depression.
- This suggests that the belief we have free will may have a positive effect on our mind and behaviour.
12
Q
(-) explain the case against free will (Libet)
A
- scientifically shown not to exist by Libet.
- Participants showed brain activity up to 0.2 seconds before they were consciously aware of making a decision to press a button.
13
Q
(+) explain the case for determinism
A
- Predictions and control of human behaviour has led to the development of treatments, therapies and behavioural interventions.
- People with schizophrenia can experience a total loss of control over thoughts and behaviour.
14
Q
Explain how the concepts of free will and determinism are supported by the law
A
- basis of moral responsibility is that an individual is in charge of their own actions, i.e. can exercise free will.
- law states that children and those who are mentally ill do not have this responsibility, but otherwise there is the assumption, in our society, that ‘normal’ adult behaviour is self determined.
- Law of diminished responsibility supports determinism.
-> accused was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning -> no control over actions.
15
Q
What is the case against determinism (Mobley’s case)
A
- Hard determinism is inconsistent with the way our legal system works -> people are morally accountable for their actions.
- Mobley’s case -> killed a pizza manager and felt no remorse.
-> attorney used determinism as their defence.
-> aunt was a witness for the defence -> stated that violence was inherent in the family. - has implications on what we do with people who have ‘criminal’ gene.
