Issues & Debates: Free Will V Determinism NEW Flashcards
What does free will suggest we are free to choose?
Our behaviours, thoughts and actions
What does free will believe we have the ability to reject?
Internal and external pressures
This side of the debate believes that we have the ability to self-determine our own destiny
Free will
This side of the debate argues that all behaviour is controlled and caused by external and/or internal factors
Determinism
What does determinism argue?
All behaviour is controlled and caused by external and/or internal factors
What does determinism say individuals do not have?
Free will over their behaviour
Topic evidence for free will comes from…
Humanism / Humanistic approach
Which approach argues that humans are self-determining and provides topic evidence for free will?
Humanism
Which type of determinism argues that individuals do not have any choice in the behaviour they display?
Hard determinism
Which type of determinism argues that as individuals we also have the ability to make conscious decisions about what we want in life?
Soft determinism
Hard determinism argues that individuals…
do not have any choice in the behaviour they display
Soft determinism argues that as individuals we have…
the ability to make conscious decisions about what we want in life
Vulnerability to developing OCD is caused by internal factors such as the inheritance of a mutated SERT gene which causes anxiety
This is an example of…
hard determinism / biological determinism
Topic evidence for soft determinism comes from…
Social learning theory
Topic evidence for hard determinism comes from…
The biological explanation for OCD / SZ
Social learning theory is topic evidence for which type of determinism?
Soft determinism
How is social learning theory an example of soft determinism?
Our thought processes play a role as to whether or not we identify someone as a role model
What does biological determinism argue that all human behaviour is controlled by?
Internal biological factors such as genetics, evolution and hormones
Which type of determinism argues that all human behaviour is controlled by internal biological factors such as genetics, evolution and hormones?
Biological determinism
Addiction to a substance/behaviour can be encouraged through lower levels of D2 receptors
This is an example of…
Biological determinism
What does environmental determinism argue that all human behaviour is controlled by?
External factors within individuals’ surroundings such as parents, society, schools, peers, upbringing, e.g. reinforcements and punishments
Which type of determinism argues that all human behaviour is controlled by external factors within individuals’ surroundings?
Environmental determinism
An infant learns to attach to their caregiver via stimulus, response, association with the food provided
This is an example of…
Environmental determinism
Topic evidence for biological determinism comes from…
Brain neurochemistry explanation of addiction / biological explanation of OCD / biological explanation of SZ
Topic evidence for environmental determinism comes from…
Learning theory explanation of attachment / phobias / nicotine addiction / gambling addiction
What does psychic determinism argue that all human behaviour is controlled by?
Unconscious conflict within the mind which have been repressed from early childhood
Which type of determinism argues that all human behaviour is controlled by unconscious conflict within the mind which have been repressed from early childhood?
Psychic determinism
Topic evidence for psychic determinism comes from…
Structure of personality (psychodynamic approach)
A guilty/anxious personality could be caused by an overactive superego
This is an example of…
Psychic determinism
Deterministic research helps establish…
cause and effect
What type of research method led to determinism?
Lab experiments where the IV is manipulated
How can lab experiments be sure of what is controlling behaviour?
Due to controlling all extraneous variables in a lab setting
Establishing cause and effect between the IV and DV has led to…
General laws of behaviour being created
What has led to general laws of behaviour being created?
Establishing cause an effect between the IV and DV
Determinism allows us to predict behaviour and to control/treat behaviour. This is a strength of…
practical applications
How does determinism lead to practical applications?
Knowing the cause of abnormal behaviour allows us to develop treatments
Hard determinism is inconsistent with the idea of self control and responsibility. This has implications for…
the British legal system
Which type of determinism restricts the use of determinism in the real world e.g. the British legal system?
Hard determinism
Which side of the debate has a more positive stance?
Free will
How does free will have a more positive stance than determinism?
It allows people to believe they have control over their behaviour which may have a positive effect on mental health
What does the concept of free will believe we have the ability to do?
Reject internal and/or external pressures and self-determine our own destiny
What does conducting deterministic research in Psychology improve?
Scientific status
Deterministic research can be conducted in highly controlled environments.
What can this ensure?
High control over extraneous variables so we can be more certain the IV has impacted the DV
Deterministic research can be conducted in environments where there is high control over extraneous variables.
What does this allow Psychologists to do and why?
Establish cause and effect to discover what internal or external factors control/drive behaviour
Through conducting deterministic research, psychologists can create general laws of human behaviour.
What can this lead to?
The creation of theories which can be empirically tested and then can lead to the development psychological treatments or interventions
Give an example of how determinism has led to a practical application
High levels of dopamine causing Schizophrenia, leading to drug therapy to treat schizophrenia (anti-psychotics)
Knowing that high levels of dopamine cause Schizophrenia has led to drug therapy to treat schizophrenia (anti-psychotics).
What AO3 point is this an example of?
Determinism leading to practical applications
Give an example of how free will can have a positive effect on mental health
People who have an internal locus of control tend to be more mentally healthy compared to those who have an external locus of control (greater risk of developing depression)
People who have an internal locus of control tend to be more mentally healthy compared to those who have an external locus of control (greater risk of developing depression).
What does this suggest about free will?
Even if we do not have free will, the fact that we think we do may have a positive impact on mind and behaviour
Although determinism has led to practical applications and the development of treatments, what is a weakness of taking a stance of hard determinism?
It is inconsistent with the idea of self-control and responsibility, which has implications for the British legal system
Why is the use of hard determinism restricted in the real world?
In court, offenders are considered morally accountable for their actions, which suggests that free will plays a role in criminal behaviour
Hard determinism is inconsistent with the idea of self-control and responsibility.
How does this have implications for the British legal system?
In court, offenders are considered morally accountable for their actions, which suggests that free will plays a role in criminal behaviour
Why is free will difficult to define?
Due to the issue of subjectivity
What did Libet (1985) report?
Findings have shown that the brain initiates the process of moving a hand almost half a second prior to a participant reporting they are consciously aware of deciding to move their hand
The current understanding of behaviour in Psychology cannot conclusively argue for either side of the debate.
Many researchers therefore hold what position and why?
Soft determinism, to allow for a combination of each in influencing behaviour
Why do many researchers now hold a position of soft determinism?
To allow for a combination of each free will & determinism in influencing behaviour
