2. Free Will and Determinism

Question 1

define free will

Answer 1

where the individual has personal responsibility and controls their own behaviour

Question 2

what are the strengths of the free will theory

Answer 2

• emphasises the importance of the individual
• fits society’s view of taking personal responsibility
• self-efficacy has been proven to be

Question 3

what are the limitations of the free will theory

Answer 3

• free will is subjective
• impossible to scientifically test the concept of free will
• people would argue that not everyone has free will under different circumstances

Question 4

define determinism

Answer 4

all behaviour is determined and predictable

Question 5

name the two types of determinism

Answer 5

• environmental (external) determinism
• internal determinism

Question 6

define environmental determinism

Answer 6

behaviour is caused by an outside influence i.e. parental influence

Question 7

name two types of internal determinism

Answer 7

• biological determinism
• psychic determinism

Question 8

define biological determinism

Answer 8

the idea that our biological systems such as the nervous system govern our behaviour

Question 9

define psychic determinism

Answer 9

Freud believed childhood experiences and unconscious motivations governed our behaviour

Question 10

what is hard determinism

Answer 10

sees free will as an illusion, there is no such thing

Question 11

what is soft determinism

Answer 11

the middle ground, that people do have a choice but it is controlled by external factors

Question 12

what are the strengths of determinism

Answer 12

• scientific and allows a cause and effect to be established

Question 13

what are the limitations of determinism

Answer 13

• reductionist, does not take other factors into consideration
• does not take dispositional factors into consideration
• implications on the justice system as it means that criminals do not have to take responsibility for their actions