Free will and determinism

Question 1

Explain Psychology as a scientific study ?

Answer 1

It is the scientific study of the brain and behaviour

Science relies on understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
Psychology does provide causal explanations.

These are deterministic

Question 2

What does it mean if something is deterministic?

Answer 2

Our behaviours are set by forces out of our control.

Question 3

Explain Causal explanations

Answer 3

They are validated through scientific methods.
Forming/testing hypotheses under controlled conditions.

In experiments the independent variable can change but the other variables remain the same so the dependent variable is accurate.

If the experiment is properly controlled the researcher can claim the cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 4

What types of determinism are there ?

Answer 4

Hard
Soft

Question 5

What is hard determinism ?

Answer 5

Personality traits/behaviour are set by forces outside of our control (internal or external)

There is no role for free will

Question 6

What is soft determinism ?

Answer 6

Traits/behaviours are to an extent dictated by internal/external forces.

However we do have some level of control (free will) over our behaviour through conscious thought processes.

Question 7

What is Free will ?

Answer 7

Individuals consciously decide their behaviour without deterministic constraints.

Question 8

What is Environmental determinism ?

Which theory is the best example of this?

What type of determinists are they viewed as?

Answer 8

2. Behaviourists
3. E.D = Our experiences in the world shape our behaviour.
   We have learnt to behave in certain ways based on factors like reinforcement or growing up in different cultures.
4. Behaviourists = Hard determinists
   They do not include conscious thought processes in their theories.
   They say behaviour can be fully explained by a series of stimulus-response links.

Question 9

What other theory is also environmentally deterministic ?

What type of determinists are they ?

Answer 9

Social learning theorists
Learning through experience. (Vicarious reinforcement/punishment).

However unlike behaviourists they have cognitive internal mental processes that mediate between stimulus and response.

They are soft determinists

Question 10

What type of determinists are cognitive theorists ?

Answer 10

Soft determinists
Accepts influence of biological factors (Genes/brain processes)

Also believe cognitive processes have a role. (Decision making/how we think)

Question 11

What is biological determinism ?

Which theory is biologically deterministic ?

Answer 11

B.D = Our behaviour is set by our genetics/biological processes.
(Hormone levels - Neurotransmitter levels - Brain structures)

Biological psychologists - Use drug treatments that directly influence the functioning of biological processes in treatment of mental health disorders.

Question 12

What is psychic determinism ?

What theory is psychically deterministic ?

What types of determinists are they?

Answer 12

Psychodynamic theorists
Freud believed in innate drivers shaped by childhood experiences form unconscious forces that determine behaviour.

(Conflicts among id-ego-superego)
(Fixations during psychosexal development stages)
(Defence mechanisms used by unconscious to shield from anxiety).

Soft determinists
Through psychoanalytic therapy people can become aware of their unconscious motivations and gain control over behaviour.

Question 13

Why do Humanists reject Determinism ?

Answer 13

Humanists reject the scientific approach
Reject determinism
People have free-will

Humans are capable of making their own choices and are responsible for those choices.

Humans strive for self-actualization and use free-will to achieve this. (Maslow hierarchy of needs).