Free Will & Determinism Flashcards
What is determinism?
-behaviour is controlled by external factors
-3 types: biological, environmental + psychic
What is biological determinism?
-behaviour is caused by biological force beyond
What is free will?
-behaviour are not determined by external forces
What is hard determinism?
-all behaviour is caused by something
What is soft determinism?
-behaviour may be predictable but room for personal choice
What is environmental determinism?
-caused by environment features
What is psychic determinism?
-caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts
Importance of scientific research
-causes can be explained using general laws
-can predict + control future events
-lab experiments - demonstrates casual relationships
Negatives of determinism - 100% determinism
-100% determination is unlikely to be found
-monozygotic twins - 80% similarity for IQ - 40% for depression
-suggests gene don’t entirely determine behaviour - supports interactionist approach
-more likely being sharing the same environment
Negatives of determinism - simplifies behaviour
-human behaviour is influenced by many factors
-cognitive factor can override biological impulses
-agression can’t be simplified into biological actions
-cognitive factor accompanying emotions
Research evidence - don’t support determinism
-brain scans dont support - Libet - P’s chose a moment to flick wrist
-measuring brain activity
-P’s had to say when they felt conscious will to move
-unconscious activity leading up to conscious decision came around 1/2 second before the P’s felt they had to move
-basic experiences are determined by our brain - before we are aware of them
Negatives of free will - illusion
-a person may chose to do something based on previous reinforcement contingencies
-hard determinist stance
Positives of free will - validity
-has good face validity - use everyday in making our own decisions
-has high internal validity - Robert et al - teenagers with external LOC
-more likely to develop depression - less optimistic
-supports the idea that free will can be used to help determine what controls our life events
