free will + determinism

Question 1

FREE WILL:

Answer 1

The notion that humans make their own choices and are not influenced by other internal or external forces - can link to humanism

Question 2

DETERMINISM:

Answer 2

The notion that an individual’s behaviour is caused by internal or external forces outside their control

Question 3

HARD DETERMINISM:

Answer 3

The most severe type of determinism, in that the individual has absolutely no control over their behaviour due to forces outside of their control

Question 4

SOFT DETERMINISM:

Answer 4

The idea that forces outside of a person’s control have shaped their behaviour to an extent but that the individual also has some degree of control or choice - can link with CBT

Question 5

BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM:

Answer 5

Behaviour is a result of genetics, neurotransmitters, brain abnormality, evolutionary processes etc- some sort of biological mechanism which the individual has no control over - can link to sexual selection, genes for OCD, genetic factors for schiz

Question 6

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM:

Answer 6

• Behaviour is a result of mechanisms in the individual’s environment (nurture) which the individual cannot control i.e. behavioural mechanisms like conditioning (reward/punishment) - NOT SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY - DONT LINK
• we are essentially at the mercy of our environment

Question 7

PSYCHIC DETERMINISM:

Answer 7

• Behaviour is the result of unconscious conflicts which we are unaware of and cannot control (i.e. our “psyche”) - can use Freud: forensics, approaches
• Mercy of our thoughts

Question 8

“The scientific emphasis on causal explanations”

Answer 8

• As you already know, the scientific approach prefers LAB BASED research because it enables the CONTROL of variables so we can try to work out the CAUSES of behaviour.
• We manipulate the IV to determine the effect on the DV, and we attempt to minimise or eliminate entirely any confounding or extraneous variables.
• In this way, we can be fairly sure that any changes to the DV are caused by the IV- i.e. We have determined causality.
• It is very important to try to work out the CAUSES of behaviour- it is what Psychology is all about- but this is very, very difficult, even using the most scientific methods.

Question 9

free will - humanistic approach

Answer 9

advocates total free will, humans have control over their own environment and can dictate their life + are capable of change

Question 10

hard determinism - behavioural approach

Answer 10

no control, all behaviour controlled by stimulus response conditioning

Question 11

soft determinism - cognitive approach

Answer 11

• It is empowering for the person concerned. We are not totally at the mercy of our thoughts, but have the power to change them.
• Through treatments such as CBT we can learn to have more control over automatic thoughts and we can decide how to respond to them.
• We can change the way we behave by building self-esteem through working on our thoughts and responses.

Question 12

biological determinism - biological approach

Answer 12

• it sees human behaviour as being controlled by the brain, neurochemistry or genes
• case in 2007 of the man whose defence proved he had the warrior gene and his sentence was reduced to manslaughter. This has huge implications for society and the legal system.
• SERT and COMT genes cause OCD

Question 13

environmental determinism - behaviourist approach

Answer 13

• behaviour controlled by stimulus response conditioning

Question 14

psychic determinism - psychodynamic approach

Answer 14

• behaviour controlled by unconscious mind and early childhood experiences
• freud: psyche