Free Will vs Determinism

Free will

Human beings are self determining and free to choose our actions and thoughts. Control our own destiny, supports humanistic approach.

Determinism

There are external factors outside your choice that influence you

Soft determinism

James idea that despite all human action having a cause there is ‘room for manoeuvre’ as people have control over how they behave. Cognitive approach

Hard determinism

Fatalism, all human behaviour has a cause therefore can identify these causes. Everything we think and do is dictated by internal or external forces that we cannot control.

Biological determinism

Physiological and neurological processes are not under our conscious control

Environmental determinism

Skinner argued that free will is an illusion as all behaviour is a result of conditioning. We believe we act independently but have been influenced by environmental forces.

Psychic determinism

Freud believed that free will was an illusion but believed that unconscious drives and instincts had a significant influence.

Scientific emphasis on causal explanations

Scientific psychology adopts a deterministic approach

Free Will Evaluation- Face Validity

Argument for choice aligns with most people’s belief we have free will, creating face validity. However, is the weakest form of validity.

Free Will Evaluation- Positive Psychology

Free will shows optimism towards treatment methods such as CBT. Robert’s, found teens who had a strong belief in fatalism were at greater risk of depression.

Free Will Evaluation- Contradictory view

Skinner argues free will is an illusion. Behaviour is environmentally determined

Determinism Evaluation- Scientific

The idea that there are cause and effects and laws in psychology means it can be scientific. Control of human behaviour has led to treatments therapies and interventions.

Determinism Evaluation- Doesn’t support biological determinism

Doubtful psychologists will find 100% genetic determination for any behaviour

Determinism Evaluation- Discredits the idea of therapy

Psychodynamic psychologists would have to accept the idea that there is free will, because without it therapy doesn’t make sense