L3 - Free Will & Determinism

Question 1

What is free will? What approach considers people to have free will?

Answer 1

• Suggests that humans can choose our thoughts and actions: we are self-determining.
• Humanistic approach

Question 2

Define determinism and identify the types.

Answer 2

General idea that our traits and behaviours are entirely out of our control due to internal/external factors over which we have no control

There is hard and soft determinism

Question 3

What is hard determinism?

Answer 3

• All traits & behaviours are entirely out of our control. Behaviour has a cause and these should be identifiable.
• Compatible with science.
• Assumes that everything we think/feel/do is dictated by forces we can’t control/aren’t aware of.

Question 4

What is soft determinism?

Answer 4

Traits and behaviours are determined by internal/external forces an individual can exercise some control via thought processes (cog app)

Question 5

Why is science heavily deterministic?

Answer 5

• Seeks for causal relationships.
• Checks if the IV causes changes in the DV. If all controls are checked, it means changes in the DV are because of IV
• Control group helps determine cause and effect
• Helps to predict and control human behaviour

Question 6

How many types of hard determinism are there?

Answer 6

3

Biological, Environment, Psychic

Question 7

What is biological determinism?

Answer 7

• Bio app argues all traits are governed by internal bio factors like genes and brain structure.
• Many processes are not under conscious control e.g autonomic nervous system in periods of stress
• Lots of behaviours are thought to have geentic basis and research has shown the effect of hormones

Question 8

What is environmental determinism?

Answer 8

• Traits are governed by external forces like experineces, learning and parents.
• Behavioural app says that our experience of choice is because of the reinforcement we have throughout our lives.
• We think we act independently, our behaviour has been shaped by environmental things and socialisation

Question 9

What is psychic determinism?

Answer 9

• Traits are governed by unconscious instincts.
• Psych approach sees human behaviour as determined and directed by unconscious conflicts, repressed in childhood.
• No such thing as accidents - even random slips of tongues are the unconscious

Question 10

Evaluation (+)

Answer 10

+ Research shows brain actovity that determines simple choices occurs before we are aware of them. Ppts were asked to push a button with their left/right hand, imaging revealed they had made a decision 10 secs before they consciously decided.
+ Determinism is fundamental to the scientific focus on investigating causes of behaviour and being able to predict behaviour
+ Prediction and control of human behaviour led to therpaies and treatments that benefit people. e.g drug therapy for schizophrenia. People do not choose to have a mental disorder.

Question 11

Evaluation (-)

Answer 11

• More face validity than determinism (common sense). Everyday experiences give people the impression they are exercising free will through the choices they make
• People with internal locus of control are more mentally healthy. A psychologist demonstrated that adolescents who had a strong belief that their lives were determined by events outside of their control risked developing depression more. Thinking we have free will has a positive impact on our mind and behaviour