issues and debates - freewill and determinism

Question 1

what is freewill

Answer 1

the notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces

Question 2

what is determinism ?

Answer 2

the view that an individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individuals will to do something

Question 3

what is hard determinism ?

Answer 3

implies that free will cannot be possible as our behaviour is always controlled by internal or external forces beyond our control

Question 4

what is soft determinism ?

Answer 4

all events including human behaviour have causes but behaviour can also be determined by our conscious choices

Question 5

which approach takes on a soft determinism approach

Answer 5

cognitive approach

Question 6

what is biological determinism

Answer 6

the belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) influences we cannot control

Question 7

what is an example of biological determinism

Answer 7

ocd - neurotransmitters
ANS- during periods of stress and anxiety
no conscious control

Question 8

what is environmental determinism ?

Answer 8

the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment we cannot control

Question 9

which approach supports environmental determinism ?

Answer 9

behaviourist approach - all actions controlled by past behaviours that have been conditioned

Question 10

what is psychic determinism

Answer 10

the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts we cannot control

Question 11

what is an example of psychic determinism ?

Answer 11

human behaviour is determined by unconscious mind and repressed in childhood

Question 12

how is science deterministic

Answer 12

it aims to find the cause of things.

it is based on the principle that every event has a cause which can be explained using general laws

Question 13

what is the scientific method

Answer 13

theory hypotheses, observable methods, controlled variables ->

Question 14

what is a strength of determinism (science)

Answer 14

Determinism is consistent with the aims of science.

the hard determinist view -> human behaviour is orderly and obeys laws

psychology on equal footing with other more established sciences

human behaviour can be predicted and controlled which has led to development of treatments therapies + behavioural interventions that have benefitted many.

Question 15

what is another limitation of determinism (legal system)

Answer 15

position determinism has on responsibility on legal system

court of law -> offenders are held responsible for their actions
defendant exercised freewill in committing the crime

real world - determinist arguments do not work

Question 16

strength of freewill (everyday life)

Answer 16

Everyday experience gives the impression that we are constantly exercising free will.

The choices that we make on any given day are believed to be made by ourselves.

This gives face validity to the concept of free will.

Research suggests that those who have an internal locus of control tend to be more mentally healthy, suggesting that even thinking that we have free will (even if we do not), may have a positive impact on behaviou

Question 17

limitation of freewill

brain scan evidence

Answer 17

Brain scan evidence does not support the concept of free will.

Libet et al (1983) instructed participants to choose a random moment to flick their wrist
measured activity in their brain.
Participants had to say when they felt the conscious will to move.

the unconscious brain activity leading up to the conscious decision to move came around half a second before the participant consciously felt they had decided to move.

basic experiences of free will are actually determined by our brain before we are aware of them.