Free will and determinism

Determinism definition

The view that an individual’s behaviour is controlled by either internal or external forces.

This means that behaviour should be predictable.

Free will definition

The alternative end of the spectrum, where an individuals are believed to have an active role in controlling their behaviour.

What are the four types of determinism?

Biological, environmental, psychic, scientific.

Explain biological determinism.

The view that behaviours are determined by our genes (eg the IGF2R gene is commonly found in people with high intelligence).

Genes influence brain structure and neurotransmitters that are implicated in behaviour.

This is as a result of research into the human genome.

Explain environmental determinism.

The behaviourist view that behaviour is caused by previous experience, through the process of classical and operant conditioning (eg phobias being acquired by associating a dog with being bitten).

Explain psychic determinism.

Freud’s theory that adult behaviour is determined by a mix of innate drives and early experience (both internal and external).

He believed that behaviour is driven by the libido. If a child is frustrated at any stage during development by external forces, the libido remains tied to the relevant zone - causing a fixation. The method of gaining satisfaction (eg oral, anal) that characterised that stage will dominate their adult personality.

Explain scientific determinism

This emphasises causal explanations.

Scientific research is based on the belief that all events have a cause. An independent variable is manipulated to observe the causal effect on a dependant variable.

(eg Harlow’s research on attachment involving an independent variable - the different mothers - and a dependant variable - attachment formed, demonstrating that contact comfort caused attachments to form)

What’s the difference between soft determinism and hard determinism?

Hard determinism - the view that all behaviour can be predicted and there is no free will.

Soft determinism - allows some element of free will. This is one solution to the debate.

What is the humanistic approach to free will?

Humanist psychologists (such as Maslow) argue that self-determination is a necessary part of human behaviour. Without it, healthy development and self-actualisation aren’t possible.

Rogers (1959) claimed that personal growth is only possible when an individual takes self-responsibility, resulting in psychological health.

What is the moral responsibility approach to free will?

The basis of moral responsibility is that an individual is in charge of their own actions, so can excercise free will.

There is an assumption that ‘normal behaviour’ (except for children and the mentally ill) is self-determined. In other words, humans are accountable for their actions, regardless of innate factors or the influences of early experiences.

Determinism eval/discussion

Genetic determinism - 100% genetic determination is never found in behaviour. For example, identical twins studies (who have identical genetic make-up) find about 80% similarity on intelligence. Therefore genes don’t entirely determine behaviour.

Environmental determinism - environmental explanations can’t solely determine behaviour as there are genetic concordance rates (eg twins IQ)

Scientific determinism - Chaos theory (or the ‘butterfly effect’) concludes that causal relationships are probabilistic rather than determinist - they simply increase the probability of something occurring rather than being the sole determiner. Also this determinist approach is an oversimplification of human behaviour, as it is complex.

Free will eval/discussion

Skinner (behaviourist) put forward the argument of the ‘illusion of free will’ - he said that a person’s ‘choices’ (eg watching a particular film) are determined by previous reinforcement experiences.

The idea of self-determination may be a culturally relative concept - may be only appropriate for individualist cultures, as collectivist cultures place greater value on behaviour determined by group needs.

Challenge to free will - research conducted by Benjamin Libet (1983) recorded activity in motor areas of the brain before the person made the conscious decision to move their finger. This suggested that the action was predetermined.

Conclusion to the debate.

Soft determinism is the perfect balance