free will vs determinism

Define determinism

The view that human behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces

Free will is an illusion

Behaviour always has a cause and is predictable

Define causal explanations

One of the basic principles of science that everything has a cause and can be predicted

Scientific research is therefore heavily determinist

Define determinism

The view that human behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces

Free will is an illusion

Behaviour always has a cause and is predictable

Define causal explanations

One of the basic principles of science that everything has a cause and can be predicted

Scientific research is therefore heavily determinist

Define hard determinism

The view that forces outside of out control shape our behaviour

Free will is an illusion

Define biological determinism

The idea that human behaviour is innate and determined by biological influences such as genetics

Example of biological determinism

Biological approach - family studies - Nestadt et al

Define psychic determinism

Behaviour is the result of innate drives and unconscious conflicts

Example of psychic determinism

Psychodynamic approach - Freud

Define environmental determinism

Behaviour is caused by external forces such as previous experience and learning through classical and operant conditioning

Example of environmental determinism

Behaviourist approach - two process model - Watson & Raynor - Little Albert Study

Define soft determinism

The view that behaviour is constrained by environmental or biological forces but will only to a certain extent

Element of free will

Define free will

The belief that humans have an active role and can make choices about how they behave

Behaviour is not determined by internal or external forces

Evaluation of debate

Negative implications of determinism - MAOA gene - defence for criminals - takes blame away

Freewill may be an illusion but is much more positive than determinism - Libet et al - motor regions become active 2000 milliseconds before - positive psychology movement - client based therapy

Determinism is consistent with science unlike freewill