PSYCH; Free will & Determinism

whats free will

the notion that humans can make their own choices;

it doesnt deny that there may be biological/enviornmental factors that exert some influence on behaviour

BUT implies that we are able to reject these forces bc we are in control of our thoughts/behaviours

whats determinism

the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped/controlled by internal/external forces rather than their freewill

what are the 5 types of determinism

hard determinism

soft determinism

biological determinism

environmental determinism

psychic determinism

whats hard determinism

referred to as ‘fatalism’ ;

suggest all human behaviour has a cause

meaning that everything we do is controlled by internal/external forces that is beyond our control

whats soft determinism

the view that behaviour may be predictable (bc of internal/external factors) but it doesnt restrict free will

meaning we have to still make rational choices in everyday situations

whats biological determinism

belief that behaviour is caused by innate biological influences that we cannot control (based on biological approach)

whats environmental determinism

belief that behaviour is caused by our environments that we cannot control

e.g. Skinner described behaviour as a result of conditioning;

meaning our behaviours stem from reinforcements in our environments that have acted upon us

whats psychic determinism

belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts repressed in childhood that we cannot control

e.g. Freud suggested that there is no such thing as an ‘accident’ and anything random can be explained by the influence of the unconscious

strength of determinism - consistency with the scientific approach

E; Determinism argues that human behaviour is caused by internal/external factors, enabling the prediction and control of behaviour. The biological approach uses genetic studies to predict behaviour, leading to treatments like psychotherapeutic drugs

E; This aligns psychology with natural sciences by adopting labratory experiments to make causal relationships and evidence for treatments

L; Therefore, determinism enhances the scientific credibility of psychology.

limitation of hard determinism - inconsistent with the legal systems (socially sensitive)

E; Hard determinism suggests all behaviour is determined by internal/factors, meaning individuals lack control over their actions. However, in a court of law offenders are self morally accountable for their actions

E; The deterministic stance provides a potential ‘excuse’ for criminal behaviour, arguing offenders cannot help their actions, which goes against legal and societal norms of responsibility.

L; Therefore, a purely deterministic view doesnt align with our understanding of moral and legal accountability, which gives rise to socially sensitive research.

limitaiton of determinism - unfalsifiable

E; Determisnm is based on the idea that causes of behaviour always exists, even if they haven’t been investigated/ discovered yet. For example Frued argues that behaviour is caused by the influence of the unconscious mind, which cannot be directly observed.

E; This means that its impossible to disprove, making it scientifically unfalsifiable

L; Therefore, the claim that all behaviour is determined lacks scientific credibility.

limitaiton of free will - brain scans evidence argues notion of free will

E; Libet et al (1983) instructed p’s to choose a random moment to flick their wrist while he measured their brain activity (aka readiness potential) and p’s had to say when they felt conscious will to move. Found that the unconscious brain activity came half a second before the p’s consciously decided to move

E; This shows that basic experiences of free will are actually determined by our brain before we are even aware of them.

L; Therefore, there’s scientific evidence arguing the notion of free will on behaviour and instead supports determinism, specifically psychic determinism and the influence of our unconscious.