free will vs determinism

Question 1

what is free will?

Answer 1

• humans have a choice
• behaviour is not determined by factors out of their control
• humanistic approach

Question 2

what is determinism?

Answer 2

• no choice
• behaviour is goverened by forces out of our control

Question 3

what is hard determinism?

Answer 3

• no free will
• all behaviour is governed by external or internal forces
• biological determinism > influenced by internal forces (genetics, hormones, brain structure)
• environmental determinism > influenced by external forces (conditioning and reinforcement)

Question 4

what is psychic determinism?

Answer 4

• no free will
• behaviour is determined by unconscious forces and traumatic childhood experiences
• instinctual drives

Question 5

what is soft determinism?

Answer 5

• behaviour is determined by factors BUT humans have the opportunity to exercise free will

Question 6

examples of biological determinism in psychology

Answer 6

1. SCHIZOPHRENIA:
   - linked to genetics
2. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:
   - OCD > COMT / SERT
3. FORENSICS:
   - lombroso > atavistic form
4. ATTACHMENT:
   - bowlby > evolutionary theory > genetic blueprint > critical period > social releasers
5. RELATIONSHIPS:
   - evolutionary explanations for mate selection > reproductive value

Question 7

examples of environmental determinism is psychology

Answer 7

1. ATTACHMENT:
   - cupboard love theory > conditioning > attachment > reinforcement
2. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:
   - phobias > two-process model > CC = acquisition, OC = maintenance
3. FORENSICS:
   - differential association theory
4. RELATIONSHIPS:
   - social exchange theory > rewards maintain a relationship

Question 8

examples of psychic determinism in psychology

Answer 8

1. FORENSICS:
   - weak superego > females
2. SCHIZOPHRENIA:
   - schizophrenogenic mother

Question 9

examples of soft determinism in psychology

Answer 9

1. APPROACHES:
   - SLT > meditational processes (attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation)
2. APPROACHES:
   - cognitive > schemas

Question 10

+ face validity (free will)

Answer 10

• realistic perception of human behaviour
• we have a choice
• active recipient
• subjective experiences

Question 11

CA of face validity

Answer 11

• lacks scientific credibility
• practically impossible to test
• can not quantify and measure
• subjective

Question 12

concluding point

Answer 12

• combined viewpoint is more realistic