free will + determinism Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the free will–determinism debate?
The free will–determinism debate asks if our behaviour is a matter of free will (chosen without constraint) or the product of internal/external influences that determine who we are and what we do.
What does the biological approach suggest about behaviour?
The biological approach suggests that the causes of behaviour are internal, such as nature or nurture.
What does the behaviourist approach suggest about behaviour?
The behaviourist approach suggests that the causes of behaviour are external.
Which psychological approach embraces the concept of free will?
The humanistic approach embraces the concept of free will.
What is free will?
Free will is the notion that humans can make choices and their behaviour/thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces.
What is determinism?
Determinism is the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individual’s will to do something.
What is hard determinism?
Hard determinism is the view that all behaviour is caused by something (internal or external forces), so free will is an illusion.
What is soft determinism?
Soft determinism is the view that behaviour may be predictable (caused by internal/external factors) but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities.
What is biological determinism?
Biological determinism is the belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, neurochemical) influences that we cannot control.
What is environmental determinism?
Environmental determinism is the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment, such as systems of reward and punishment, that we cannot control.
What is psychic determinism?
Psychic determinism is the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control.
What is the practical value of believing in free will?
Believing in free will can improve mental health, as those with an internal locus of control are less likely to be depressed and more likely to be optimistic.
What did Roberts et al. (2000) find about locus of control and depression?
They found adolescents with an external locus of control were at a significantly greater risk of developing depression.
What is one limitation of free will based on research evidence?
Brain scan evidence does not support free will but supports determinism, as the unconscious brain activity occurs before conscious awareness of a decision.
What did Libet et al. (1983) find about unconscious brain activity?
They found that the unconscious brain activity leading up to a conscious decision to move occurred half a second before the participant consciously felt they had decided to move.
What is the law’s position on determinism and free will?
The law assumes individual responsibility, so if determinism is true, it challenges the basis of legal responsibility for actions.
What is fatalism?
Fatalism is the idea that all human behaviour has a cause and is inevitable, so it should be possible to identify and describe these causes.
Who first put forward the notion of soft determinism?
The philosopher William James (1890) first put forward the notion of soft determinism.
What is the cognitive approach’s position on free will and determinism?
The cognitive approach has been important for the idea of soft determinism, suggesting rational choices within constraints.
What is the scientific emphasis on causal explanations?
Science assumes every event has a cause, and knowledge of causes and laws allows scientists to predict and control events.
What is the role of the lab experiment in determinism?
Lab experiments enable researchers to demonstrate causal relationships by controlling variables.
What is environmental determinism according to B.F. Skinner?
Skinner described free will as an illusion and argued that all behaviour is the result of conditioning.
What is psychic determinism according to Freud?
Freud believed free will is an illusion and behaviour is determined by unconscious conflicts rooted in childhood.
What is the common-sense view of free will?
The common-sense view is that we exercise free choice in our everyday lives.
