Free will and Determinism

Question 1

what is determinism

Answer 1

the view that behaviour is controlled by external and/or internal forces that act on the individual - we have no choice or control

Question 2

what is an example of an internal force of determinism

Answer 2

hormones influences someone’s behaviour

Question 3

what is an example of an external force of determinism

Answer 3

parents rewarding someone’s behaviour

Question 4

what is free will

Answer 4

the view that our actions are voluntary and we have freedom of choice, therefore have full control over behaviour

Question 5

from the idea of free will is it possible to predict human behaviour

Answer 5

no - entirely impossible

Question 6

from the idea of determinism is it possible to predict human behaviour

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

what are the two degrees of determinism

Answer 7

hard and soft

Question 8

what is hard determinism

Answer 8

view that forces outside our control shape our behaviour

Question 9

what is the relationship between hard determinism and free will

Answer 9

they are completely incompatible

Question 10

what are examples of forces outside our control in hard determinism

Answer 10

biology or past experience - environment and biological make up

Question 11

what is soft determinism

Answer 11

view that some behaviours are more constrained than others and there is an element of free will in all behaviour

Question 12

in reference to soft determinism, what constrains behaviour

Answer 12

environmental and biological factors

Question 13

what does soft determinism say about predicting behaviour

Answer 13

behaviour is predictable but not inevitable

Question 14

what are the four types of determinism

Answer 14

• biological
• environmental
• psychic
• scientific

Question 15

what is biological determinism

Answer 15

belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences we cannot control

Question 16

give examples of biological determinism

Answer 16

genes, hormones, nervous system, evolutionary factors

Question 17

what is environmental determinism

Answer 17

belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment and other aspects of socialisation beyond our control

Question 18

give examples of environmental determinism

Answer 18

rewards, punishments, associations (operant and classical conditioning)

Question 19

what is psychic determinism

Answer 19

the belief that human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives

Question 20

give examples of psychic determinism

Answer 20

Id, ego, superego, unconscious conflicts

Question 21

what is scientific determinism

Answer 21

the deterministic argument must be able to show the behaviour has been CAUSED by something OUT OF the individuals CONTROL

Question 22

which approach believes in free will

Answer 22

the humanistic approach

Question 23

how is the humanistic approach based on free will

Answer 23

personal agency (choices we make) and self-determination (control) determines behaviour

Question 24

what type of determinism is the biological approach based on

Answer 24

biological determinism

Question 25

what type of determinism is the behaviourist approach based on

Answer 25

environmental determinism

Question 26

what type of determinism is the SLT approach based on

Answer 26

soft determinism

Question 27

what type of determinism is the biological approach based cognitive

Answer 27

soft determinism

Question 28

what type of determinism is the psychodynamic approach based on

Answer 28

psychic determinism

Question 29

what degree of determinism is favoured by psychologists

Answer 29

soft

Question 30

give an example of the biological approach being based on biological determinism

Answer 30

dopamine hypothesis of SZ - behaviour controlled by genes, hormones, neurotransmitters

Question 31

give an example of the behaviourist approach being based on environmental determinism

Answer 31

development of phobias and the role of conditioning in that - behaviour controlled by stimulus-response conditioning

Question 32

give an example of the SLT approach being based on soft determinism

Answer 32

development of gender - environment plays a part but people still have choice

Question 33

give an example of the cognitive approach being based on soft determinism

Answer 33

gender schema theory - mediational process control behaviour but people choose what info they attend to

Question 34

give an example of the psychodynamic approach being based on psychic determinism

Answer 34

freud's theory of personality development - unconscious drives and early experiences drive behaviour