freewill and determinism

free will

• Free will means that human beings can make genuine choices and are in control of their behaviour — that is, they exercise self-determination rather than being wholly controlled by internal/external forces.

• Humanism strongly believes in free will (it is the only approach to do so). Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow believe that free will is necessary to achieve self-actualisation. Humanism believes we have personal agency, the ability to make up our mind irregardless of influence. 

• However, free will is impossible to objectively or empirically study as it cannot be observed. 
  

• Free will doesn’t necessarily deny the influence of internal/external factors, but emphasizes that individuals still have choice over their actions.

• Relevance: Free will ties into ideas of moral responsibility, personal agency, and humanistic approaches in psychology.

• Free will is the notion that we have full choice over our actions without influence or manipulation.

• Humanistic psychology strongly advocates for free will, believing it is necessary for self-actualization. 

• However, free will is difficult to empirically study and observe. 

determinsm

• Determinism is the idea that behaviour is caused (determined) by factors outside the individual’s free will. That means what we do is predictable (in principle) because it has causes. 

• Determinism is the idea that our behaviors are caused by something and that we have little actual control over them. Variables that cause our behaviour are called determinant

biological determinism

• behaviour can be a result of the internal processes within the body and this is generally split into three - genetics , brain physiology, biochemistry

• genetics are influential - although they do not definitely cause behaviour they can increase likelihood of that behaviour , disorder syndrome or condition occuring.

• example: the belief that men are naturally more aggressive than women

• hormones and genetics completely determine complex social behavior - aggression or leadership ability - ignoring the powerful influence of culture, upbringing, and personal experience.

environment determinism 

• our behaviour is caused by our physical environment and the people around us

• example - social influence - Milgram and Zimbardo - their participants acted out the pressures from their environment - it could be argued they wouldn’t have normally acted like this but their environment determined their behaviour.

psychic determinism

• links very closely to the psychodynamic approach

• behaviour is caused by our unconscious mind

• Psychic determinism argues that this is why some individuals do not know why they take a certain course of action

• Essentially, our behaviour is caused or determined by our unconscious mind. Freud argued that every behaviour has an initial cause and that behaviour was initiated in a part of our mind we cannot access.

• example: Freud - every behavior has an initial cause and that behavior was initiated in a part of our mind we cannot access

• Libert et al - found the brains response to a task begins around 550 milliseconds before a person becomes aware of their intention to act - unconscious brain activity initiates the action.

soft determinism

• Human behaviour is generally pre-determined by factors outside of their control but have the option to exercise free will in some situations

• accepts humans have a perception of control

example - conformity an example of soft determinism - illusion of choice in an environment that does constrain our behaviour - hard determinism cannot exist here due to the fact some people do not resist conformity - represents a middle ground - you do have a choice to conform or not - somehow costrained by internal and external factors ( social pressures or laws

hard determinism

• Human behaviour is completely determined by factors outside of their control - we have no free will

• free will is an illusion.

• Example - BF Skinner - might argue that a person’s actions are completely determined by their past conditioning - rewards and punishments - rather than by free will  . Someone studies for exams very hard, but it’s not because they chose to be diligent, but because past experiences ( praise or good grades) have conditional them to behave that

scientific explanations on casual explanations

• The reason determinism is important in psychology is that psychology aims (in part) to identify causes of behaviour (just like natural sciences) — this fits a deterministic view.

• So determinism underpins much psychological research methodology (control, prediction, cause-effect) and theoretical approaches

• casual explanations are established:

• all variables such as confounding and extraneous variables are controlled for

• any differences in the DVs must therefore be down to the IVs

• as a result - researchers can then infer that the IV clearly affected the DV

the interactions perspective

• efinition: Suggests that free will and determinism interact, rather than existing as opposites.

• Key idea: Behaviour is influenced by both internal (biological, psychological) and external (environmental, social) factors, but individuals can still exercise some degree of choice.

• Example: The diathesis–stress model in psychopathology — genetic vulnerability (deterministic) interacts with environmental stressors (deterministic) and individual coping strategies (element of free will).

• Explanation: Most psychologists now accept an interactionist or soft deterministic view: behaviour is influenced by factors, but people can make rational choices within these constraints.

• Application: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) combines deterministic elements (irrational thought patterns cause distress) with free will (clients actively challenge and change them).

evaluations for determinism

✅ PEEL 1 – Scientific credibility

Point: A key strength of determinism is that it aligns with the aims and methods of science.
Evidence/Example: Scientific psychology seeks to establish cause-and-effect relationships, predict behaviour, and control variables in experiments. For example, the development of drug therapies for mental disorders such as depression is based on deterministic principles — assuming that chemical imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin cause symptoms.
Explain: This scientific approach allows psychologists to create objective, testable explanations and develop evidence-based treatments.
Link: Therefore, determinism enhances psychology’s credibility as a science by promoting a systematic and measurable understanding of human behavior.

✅ PEEL 2 – Practical applications

Point: Deterministic explanations also have practical benefits, as they can lead to effective interventions and treatments.
Evidence/Example: For instance, recognising that biological factors contribute to mental illness has led to the development of antidepressants and other medical treatments that target underlying causes. Similarly, understanding environmental determinism has helped design behaviour modification programmes.
Explain: By identifying the causal factors of behaviour, psychologists can intervene to reduce negative outcomes and improve wellbeing.
Link: Therefore, determinism has real-world value, as it supports prevention and treatment strategies that benefit individuals and society.

❌ PEEL 3 – Moral responsibility

Point: A major criticism of determinism is that it challenges the concept of moral responsibility.
Evidence/Example: If all behaviour is caused by internal or external forces beyond our control, then individuals could argue they are not accountable for their actions. For example, in legal contexts, criminals might claim their behaviour was determined by biology or upbringing.
Explain: This view undermines the justice system, which is based on the assumption that people have free will and can choose between right and wrong.
Link: Therefore, hard determinism can have dangerous moral and ethical implications for how society views responsibility and punishment.

❌ PEEL 4 – Reductionism

Point: Another limitation is that determinism can be overly reductionist.
Evidence/Example: Deterministic explanations often simplify complex human behaviour by reducing it to a single cause, such as genes or conditioning, while ignoring cognitive, emotional, and social influences.
Explain: This oversimplification fails to capture the richness of human experience and underestimates the role of conscious thought and decision-making.
Link: Therefore, deterministic explanations may lack validity because they ignore the interaction of multiple factors that shape human behaviour.

❌ PEEL 5 – Inconsistent with subjective experience

Point: Finally, determinism is inconsistent with how people experience their own behaviour.
Evidence/Example: In everyday life, individuals feel they are making free choices — such as deciding what to eat or how to act — suggesting some sense of personal control.
Explain: Even if free will is partly an illusion, the fact that people believe in it has psychological benefits, such as greater motivation and mental wellbeing (e.g., internal locus of control).
Link: Therefore, the subjective experience of choice supports the idea that determinism cannot fully explain human behaviour, and that free will may still have psychological validity.

evaluations for free will

✅ PEEL 1 – Face validity and moral responsibility

Point: A key strength of free will is that it has high face validity, as it matches human experience and supports moral responsibility.
Evidence/Example: Most people feel they have conscious control over their behaviour and can choose how to act. This belief is supported by research showing that people with an internal locus of control — who see themselves as in control of their lives — tend to be more mentally healthy and motivated.
Explain: This suggests that believing in free will has positive psychological outcomes and reflects our everyday experiences of choice and agency.
Link: Therefore, free will appears to have both intuitive and practical value, supporting its relevance in understanding human behaviour.

✅ PEEL 2 – Positive implications for psychology

Point: Another strength is that the idea of free will has had positive applications within psychology.
Evidence/Example: The humanistic approach, for instance, is built on the assumption that individuals have free will and are capable of self-determination. This belief underpins person-centred therapy (Rogers), which encourages personal growth and responsibility rather than blaming external factors.
Explain: By emphasising personal control and self-improvement, the concept of free will promotes optimism and empowerment within therapy and education.
Link: Therefore, the acceptance of free will has contributed to valuable, growth-focused psychological interventions and supports human wellbeing.

❌ PEEL 3 – Lack of scientific basis

Point: A major limitation of free will is that it lacks scientific support and is difficult to measure objectively.
Evidence/Example: For example, Libet (1985) found that brain activity associated with a decision (the readiness potential) occurred several milliseconds before participants became consciously aware of deciding to move their finger.
Explain: This suggests that our decisions may be initiated by unconscious brain processes before we are aware of them, implying that the experience of free will might be an illusion.
Link: Therefore, free will may not be a scientifically valid explanation of behaviour, as it conflicts with evidence that unconscious mechanisms influence our actions.

❌ PEEL 4 – Cultural bias

Point: Another weakness of the free will argument is that it may reflect cultural bias.
Evidence/Example: The concept of personal autonomy and choice is a key value in Western, individualist cultures, but in collectivist cultures (e.g., in parts of Asia), behaviour is often seen as shaped by social obligations and group harmony rather than individual choice.
Explain: This means that free will may not be a universal concept and could represent an ethnocentric, Western perspective on human behaviour.
Link: Therefore, theories that emphasise free will may lack cross-cultural validity and fail to fully explain behaviour in non-Western societies.