Free will and Determinism

Question 1

Evidence for mental illness being determined

Answer 1

Evidence from countless studies of
Psychopathology have suggested mental illness and its associated behaviour is determined and thus is out of the control of the individual. For example, Schizophrenia is
a disorder characterised by the individuals’ loss of control over their own thoughts and behaviours. It is strongly argued the usually distressing and negative experiences of schizophrenia sufferers (e.g. paranoia) are undoubtedly not ‘chosen’ therefore casts strong doubt on the freewill argument. Furthermore empirical evidence from research into
OCD shows that the symptoms may be determined by the function of the orbitofrontal cortex (Pauls et al, 2014.) this is to say at least in terms of mental illness behaviour would
appear to be determined. However, critics of this hard determinism approach have proposed that with certain mental illnesses like depression, anxiety and OCD individuals can choose to take some conscious mental control over their thoughts and behaviours to
alleviate some of the symptoms – thus suggesting a soft determinist view is a better argument.

Question 2

3) Freewill leads to better mental health

Answer 2

Taking a freewill perspective can be beneficial because it can lead to better mental health. This is supported by research into locus of
control which found that people with an internal locus of control believe they have choice in their actions and have a high degree of influence over their own behaviour and events in their lives. Several studies have shown that those who exhibit an internal locus of control are more mentally healthy. For example, Roberts (2000) demonstrated adolescents who have an internal locus of control were less vulnerable to becoming
depressed whereas those with a strong belief in fatalism, who felt they had no control in their lives were at a significant risk. This suggests that even if freewill is an illusion as suggested by some determinists, the belief that we have freewill leads to a positive impact
on people’s lives.

Question 3

Much more compelling evidence for determinism than for freewill

Answer 3

Both Libet (1985) and Chun Siong Soon (2008) have found evidence that brain activity determines the
outcome of simple choices. The research found participants brain activity indicated whether to use the left or right hand to press a button up to 10 seconds before the
individual reported being aware of consciously making a decision. In simple terms, participants had already made the ‘decision’ before they believed they were making the
decision. This is compelling evidence that our ‘free’ choices are actually predetermined before we are even consciously aware we have made a decision, thus supporting the idea
that the concept of freewill is an illusion, with thoughts and behaviours being predetermined by factors outside of our control.