Free will vs determinism. Flashcards
What is free will?
- Suggests that as human beings we are essentially self-determining and free to choose our thoughts and actions.
- A belief in free will does not deny there may be biological and environmental forces that exert some influence on our behaviour, but implies we are able to reject these forces and control our own destiny.
- View of human behaviour that is advocated by the humansitic approach.
What is determinism?
- Proposes free will has no place in explaining behaviour.
- Everything we think and do is dictated by internal and external forces - we have no free will.
What is hard determinism? (sometimes referred to as fatalism)
- Suggests all human behaviour has a cause, in principle, it should be possible to identify and describe these cases.
- This position is compatible with the aims of science, but has been criticised as being too extreme.
- e.g. biological, behaviourist and psychodynamic explanations for behaviour.
- e.g. depression can be explained by a low level of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
What is soft determinism?
- Refers to the idea that all events, including human behaviour has causes to an extent. Means there’s room for manoeurve in that humans have conscious mental control over the way they behave, suggesting an element of free will.
- e.g. a male with high testosterone may have aggressive tendencies that could lead to violence, but they have a choice in deciding whether to solve all issues with violence or not.
What is biological determinism?
- Belief that our physiological and neurological are not under our conscious control.
- Our genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones and evolution govern our behaviour.
- Modern bio-psychologists would argue the environment also has an influence.
What is environmental determinism?
- Belief that behaviour is governed by feature of the environment that we cannot control.
- The experience of choice - this has been shaped by environmental events and agents of socialisation e.g. parents, teachers etc.
What is psychic determinism?
- Belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control.
- Agreed with Skinner that ‘free will is an illusion’ - but placed more emphasis on the influence of biological drives and instincts - we are influenced heavily by our unconscious desires and unresolved conflicts from childhood.
Strength of determinism - consistent in aims of science.
P: A strength is that determinism is consistent with the aims of science. The notion that human behaviour is orderly, and obeys laws is more in line with other established sciences.
E: The value of such research in the prediction and control of human behaviour has led to treatments, therapies and behavioural interventions, for instance, psychotherapeutic drug treatment in controlling and managing schizophrenia.
C: Therefore, at least in terms of mental illness, behaviour would
appear to be determined.
Strength of free will - constantly exercising choice.
P: A strength is that everyday experiences give the impression that we are constantly exercising choice on any given day.
E: Research suggest that people who have an internal locus of control – people who believe they have a high level of control over their lives – tend to be more mentally healthy.
C: This suggests that if we do not have free will, the fact that we think we do may have a positive impact on mind and behaviour.
Limitation of determinism - provides excuse for criminal acts.
P: A limitation is that many psychologists, theorists and legal experts believe that if behaviour is determined by outside forces, that provides a potential excuse for criminal acts.
E: For example, in 1981 Stephen Mobley argued that he was ‘born to kill’ after killing a pizza shop manager because his family had a disposition towards violence and aggressive behaviour. An American
court rejected this argument.
C: Therefore, a truly determinist position may be undesirable as it provides an ‘excuse’, allowing people to mitigate their own liability and could lead to troublesome legal issues regarding the nature of
responsibility and intent.
Limitation of free will - is an illusion.
P: However, the idea of free will has attracted similar criticisms. Some psychologists, such as Skinner, argue that free will is an illusion. Skinner insisted that our behaviour is in fact environmentally determined, even if we are unable (or unwilling) to admit it.
E: For example, Libet et al. (1983) found that the motor regions of the brain become active before a person registers conscious awareness of a decision, i.e. the decision to move the finger was
actually a pre-determined action of the brain.
C: This strongly suggests that many responses are biologically
determined and that although we may believe that we have free will, Skinner’s claim that free will is an illusion, may be correct.
What is causal explanations?
Based on the scientific idea that behaviour is caused by internal/external factors, suggesting there is a cause-and-effect relationship between variables.
