Free will/ Determinism

Question 1

What is free will?

Answer 1

• Our behaviour is the product of our own free choice

Question 2

What is determinism?

Answer 2

• Our behaviour is caused by factors outside of our control

Question 3

What are the strengths of research being free will?

Answer 3

• Not socially sensitive as people like to feel like they have control over their behaviour
• Useful, as people can be held accountable for their actions

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of claiming behaviour is free will?

Answer 3

• Hard to prove, “free will” could be due to a different determinant

Question 4

What are the strengths of research being deterministic?

Answer 4

• Scientific as determinist explanations often arise from controlled experiments that establish cause and effect

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of research being deterministic?

Answer 5

• May be socially sensitive as people could find it uncomfortable being told they are not in control of the way they behave