Issues and Debates (free will v determinism) Flashcards
Determinism
The belief that behaviour is controlled by external or internal factors acting upon individuals beyond their control.
Biological determinism
- view that behaviour is always caused by internal biological forces behind our control, influences of genes
Example of biology approach to biological determinism
- Family studies - genetic vulnerability for developing psychological disorders such as OCD.Nestadt review twin studies and found high concordance rates in identical twins shoeing genetics causing OCD
Environmental determinism
- behaviour is caused by previous experiences through conditioning (skinner)
Example of environmental determinism on an approach
Behaviourist approach
- two process model suggests that phobias are acquired and maintained through conditioning ( little Albert)
Psychic determinism
- behaviour determined by innate drives and early experiences. Results of unconscious conflict we have no control of
- Freud’s psychosexual stages
Example of psychic determinism on an approach
Psychodynamic approach
- Freud claimed child development occurs in 5 stages which had their won conflict that child must resolve. If unresolved then leads to fixation that child carried through adult life.
Hard determinism
- the view we have absolutely no control over our behavoiour and
Soft determinism
- Allows some elements of free will, suggests all behaviour has a cause.
- Cognitive approach suggests all individuals can reason and make decision within limits of their cognitive system.
The scientific emphasis on casual explanations
- science states that everything has a cause as they allow scientists to predict and control event.
- an IV is manipulated to have an effect on the DV. Through repeating the research under controlled conditions ( lab experiment) a ‘cause & effect’ relationship is established, increasing the scientific credibility of psychology
Free will
- Individuals have the power to make choices about their behaviour.
- Humanisitc approach
Free will in the humastic approach
- Argues that self- determinism is a necessary part of human behaviour.
- Roger’s claimed that as long as individuals remains controlled by other people or things they can’t take responsibility for their behaviour and can’t change it.
- Only when an individual takes self responsibility is personal growth or ‘self actualisation’ possible.
- Maslows pyramid
What is moral repsonbility (humanistic approach)
- the basis that an individual is in charge of their own actions.
- The law states that children and those who are mentally ill do not have this responsibility, but other than this there is an assumption that normal adult behaviour is self-determined.
- Therefore, human are accountable for their behaviour regardless of innate factors or early experinces.
What is libertarianism
- The idea of self-ownership, responsibility and free choice.
- the govt should have less control over the lives of citizens and they should be responsible for themselves
AO3 - Determinism negative
- If behaviour is determined by outside forces such as biology then that provides a potential excuse for criminal acts. Court cases in the US , have attempted to use the defense that genetic variant called the MAOA gene was responsible for violent acts and even murders.
- So free will is more compatible in society’s views and more appropriate as it suggests ppl can change rather than be contolrled by biology or their upbringing.
