Free Will Vs Determinism Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is the main question posed by the free will-determinism debate?
The free will-determinism debate asks a simple question - is our behaviour a matter of free will (i.e. selected without constraint) or are we the product of a set of internal and/or external influences that determine who we are and what we do?
How do different approaches in psychology relate to determinism and free will?
Most approaches in psychology are determinist to some extent. However, the different approaches disagree on what the precise causes of human behaviour are. For example the biological approach suggests the causes are internal (could be nature or nurture) whereas the behaviourist approach suggests they are external. The humanistic approach embraces the concept of free will.
What is the definition of free will in psychology?
The notion of free will suggests that human beings are essentially self-determining and free to choose their own thoughts and actions. A belief in free will does not deny that there may be biological and environmental forces that exert some influence on behaviour, but nevertheless implies that we are able to reject these forces if we wish because we are in control of our thoughts/behaviour. Free will is a view of human behaviour that is advocated by the humanistic approach.
What is hard determinism and what does it assume?
Hard determinism is sometimes referred to as fatalism, and suggests that all human behaviour has a cause, and, in principle, it should be possible to identify and describe these causes. Such a position always assumes that everything we think and do is dictated by internal or external forces that we cannot control.
What is soft determinism and who first proposed it?
The philosopher William James (1890) was the first to put forward the notion of soft determinism - a position that later became an important feature of the cognitive approach. James thought that, whilst it may be the job of scientists to explain what determines our behaviour, this does not detract from the freedom we have to make rational conscious choices in everyday situations.
What does biological determinism involve in psychology?
The biological approach emphasises the role of biological determinism in behaviour, such as the influence of the autonomic nervous system on the stress response or the influence of genes on mental health. Modern biological psychologists would recognise the mediating influence of the environment on our biological structures (another determinist influence).
What is environmental determinism and what did B.F. Skinner say about free will?
B.F. Skinner described free will as ‘an illusion’ and argued that all behaviour is the result of conditioning. Although we might think we are acting independently, our experience of ‘choice’ is merely the sum total of reinforcement contingencies that have acted upon us throughout our lives.
What is psychic determinism and how did Freud explain human behaviour?
Sigmund Freud believed that free will is an ‘illusion’ but he emphasised the influence of biological drives and instincts. He saw human behaviour as determined by unconscious conflicts, repressed in childhood. According to Freud, there is no such thing as an accident, and even something as seemingly random as a slip of the tongue can be explained by the influence of the unconscious.
What is the scientific emphasis on causal explanations in psychology?
One of the basic principles of science is that every event in the universe has a cause and that causes can be explained using general laws (hard determinism). Knowledge of causes and the formulation of laws are important as they allow scientists to predict and control events in the future. In psychology, the lab experiment is the ideal of science as it enables researchers to demonstrate causal relationships - it is like the test tube used in other sciences where all variables can be controlled.
What is one strength of free will related to its practical value?
Point: One strength of free will (rather than determinism) is its practical value. Evidence: A study by Rebecca Roberts et al. (2000) looked at adolescents who had a strong belief in fatalism - that their lives were ’decided by events outside of their control. The study found that these adolescents were at significantly greater risk of developing depression. Explain: It seems that people who exhibit an external, rather than internal, locus of control are less likely to be optimistic. Link: This suggests that, even if we do not have free will, the fact that we believe we do may have a positive impact on mind and behaviour.
What is one limitation of free will supported by brain scan evidence?
Point: One limitation of free will is that brain scan evidence does not support it but does support determinism. Evidence: Benjamin Libet et al. (1983) instructed participants to choose a random moment to flick their wrist while he measured activity in their brain (‘readiness potential’). Participants had to say when they felt the conscious will to move. Libet found that the unconscious brain activity leading up to the conscious decision to move came around half a second before the participant consciously felt they had decided to move. Explain: This may be interpreted as meaning that even our most basic experiences of free will are actually determined by our brain before we are aware of them (a thought that could keep you awake at night if you dwell on it!). Link: Suggests free will might be an illusion created by our brains after the fact.
What is a counterpoint to Libet’s findings?
Point: However, Libet’s findings showing that the brain is involved in decision-making is not surprising and is, in fact, just as we would expect. Evidence: Just because the action comes before the conscious awareness of the decision to act, doesn’t mean that there was no decision to act - just that the decision to act took time to reach consciousness. Explain: Our conscious awareness of the decision is simply a ‘read-out’ of our unconscious decision-making. Link: This suggests this evidence is not appropriate as a challenge to free will.
What is a limitation of determinism when considering legal responsibility?
Point: One limitation of determinism (and strength of free will) is the position of the legal system on responsibility. Evidence: The hard determinist stance is that individual choice is not the cause of behaviour. This is not consistent with the way in which our legal system operates. In a court of law, offenders are held responsible for their actions. Explain: Indeed, the main principle of our legal system is that a defendant exercised their free will in committing the crime. Link: This suggests that, in the real world, determinist arguments do not work.
