free will vs determinism

determinism

is the view that free will is an illusion and that our behaviour is governed by internal and external forces over which we have no control. consequently, our behaviour is viewed as predictable

hard determinism

is the view that forces outside our control (eg biology or past behaviour) shape our behaviour. hard determinism is seen as incompatible with free will

soft determinism

is the view behaviour is constrained by the environment or biological makeup but only to a certain extent and that there is an element of free will in all behaviour

biological determinism

refers to the idea that all human behaviour is innate and determined by genes

example of biological determinism

psychopathology - OCD is partly genetic. If 1st degree relative has OCD, 5x more likely to have OCD. therefore showing that genes are partly involved

environmental determinism

is the view that behaviour is caused by forces outside the individual. therefore, behaviour is caused by previous experience learned through operant and classical conditioning

example of biological determinism

psychopathology - phobias acquired through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning. therefore to some extent environmentally determined

psychic determinism

claims that human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives (id, ego and superego), as in Freud's model of psychological development.

example of psychic determinism

suggests that gender behaviours are acquired during the phallic stage of development, through the resolution of the Oedipus or Electra complex, where children identify with the same sex parent

free will

is the idea that we play an active role and have an active choice in how we behave. the assumption is that individuals are free to choose their behaviour and are self determined

example of free will

approaches in psychology: humanist psychologists argue against the determinism view, claiming that humans have self determination and free will and that behaviour is not the result of a single cause

A03: research evidence for determinism

Libet et al (1983) found that the motor regions of the brain became active before a person registers conscious awareness of decision

A03 : practical value

Robberts et al (2000) looked at adolescents who had a strong belief in fatalism. the study found the student have a greater risk of developing depression

fatalism

that their lives are decided by events beyond their control