issues and debates - freewill and determinism Flashcards

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1
Q

what is freewill

A

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

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2
Q

what is determinism ?

A

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

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3
Q

what is hard determinism ?

A

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

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4
Q

what is soft determinism ?

A

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

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5
Q

which approach takes on a soft determinism approach

A

cognitive approach

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6
Q

what is biological determinism

A

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

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7
Q

what is an example of biological determinism

A

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

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8
Q

what is environmental determinism ?

A

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

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9
Q

which approach supports environmental determinism ?

A

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

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10
Q

what is psychic determinism

A

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

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11
Q

what is an example of psychic determinism ?

A

human behaviour is determined by unconscious mind and repressed in childhood

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12
Q

how is science deterministic

A

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

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13
Q

what is the scientific method

A

theory hypotheses, observable methods, controlled variables ->

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14
Q

what is a strength of determinism (science)

A

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.

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15
Q

what is another limitation of determinism (legal system)

A

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

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16
Q

strength of freewill (everyday life)

A

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

17
Q

limitation of freewill

brain scan evidence

A

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.