Free Will And Determinism

Question 1

Def free will

Answer 1

The belief that People make choices about their actions and is capable of self determination, they are in control of their future

Question 2

Def determinism

Answer 2

The belief human behaviour is caused by factors a person cannot control, these forces can be internal or external

Question 3

Example of free will vs determinism

Answer 3

Kray twins

Question 4

Determinism viewpoint kray twins

Answer 4

Influences out of their control lead to this behaviour putting them in prison

Question 5

Free will viewpoint kray twins

Answer 5

They chose to commit the crimes putting them in prison

Question 6

2 types of determinism

Answer 6

Hard

Soft

Question 7

Def hard determinism

Answer 7

Aka fatalism - everything we do governed by internal or external forces that can’t be controlled by the person. Scientific because we should always find cause of behaviour

Question 8

Def soft determinism

Answer 8

Put forward by William and James who accept benefits amour has a cause but suggests people have some mental cause over their behaviour

Question 9

3 explanations for hard determinism

Answer 9

Psychic
Biological
Environmental

Question 10

Why do these 3 explanations demonstrate hard determinism

Answer 10

Because their behaviour is determined by internal or external factors that we cannot control

Question 11

Description psychic determinism

Answer 11

Freud thought free will is an illusion and emphasised determining influences on behaviour and suggested behaviour is never accidental

Question 12

Description biological determinism

Answer 12

Genetics, hormones and evolution play a role in personality, health and intelligence eg the nervous system and neurotransmitters

Question 13

Description environmental determinism

Answer 13

Skinner said free will is an illusion and free will is just a result of conditioning and reinforcement, behaviour is shaped by events and socialising agents

Question 14

Example of soft determinism

Answer 14

Bandura learning theory - factors like reinforcement in learning are important but people can chose whether they behave a certain way

Question 15

Why is determinism scientific

Answer 15

• deterministic approach emphasises idea that all behaviours are predictable
• it can be tested, controlled and manipulated because it has a cause
• if a behaviour has a cause, scientists can test predictions about future behaviour
  Therefore scientific

Question 16

Strength of free will approach

Answer 16

Evidence to support concept of free will

• good face validity because people exercise choice in everyday life
• also linked to humanistic theories because suggests people need to be self determining
• supported by locus of control - Maslow and Rodgers suggest bettering mental health when exercising free will

Question 17

Weakness of free will

Answer 17

Free will is an illusion

• difficult to measure though neuroscience experiment did
• skinner and Freud measured brain activity when making decisions
• brain acitivty increased before person decided to react showing their brain determines decisions

Question 18

Strength of determinism

Answer 18

Consistent with aims of science

• determinist believes all behaviour is caused allowing general laws of behaviour to be made
• controlled research giving statistical data that can be analysed giving scientific credibility

Question 19

Weakness of determinism

Answer 19

Incompatible with legal system

• we can’t hold people responsible to crime if they didn’t chose to commit it
• limited application in legal settings
• courts should consider interaction of free will and determinism in crime (soft determinism approach)

Question 20

Strength soft determinism

Answer 20

Good application in treatment

• free will in terms of making goals in therapy
• determinist to treatment when given medication to manage biological determinate of self control
• leading to worthwhile and reliable treatment