free will and determinism

what is free will?

the notion that humans can make choices and that their behaviours and thoughts are not determined by biological (internal) or external factors

what is determinism?

the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by either internal or external forces acting upon the individual, rather than their will to do something

what are some examples of determinism in psychology?

• Milgram’s study - situational explanations

• Harlow - early separation caused the maladaptive relationships

• Authoritarian personality

what is hard determinism?

the view that all behaviour is caused by something - internal or external factors - so free will is an illusion

• sometimes people refer to it as fatalism (idea of fate)

• in principle, should be impossible to identify and describe these causes - fits with scientific approach

what is soft determinism and example

View that behaviour may be predictable - caused by internal and/or external factors - but there is also room for personal choice from a range of limited options/possibilities

• example: who your bf is, where you go, who you find annoying

what are the 3 types of determinism?

• biological

• psychic

• environmental

what is biological determinism and examples?

the belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences like genetics, hormones etc. that we cannot control

• example: mental health disorders (like schizophrenia, OCD etc.), aggression, Bowlby’s monotropic theory (attach in order to survive)

What is psychic determinism? and example

the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control

• Freud emphasised the influence of biological drives and instinct and unconscious conflicts

• example: psychosexual fixations, childhood experiences, defence mechanisms

what is environmental determinism? example?

the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment like systems of rewards or punishments that we cannot control

• example: links to behaviourist approach - learning theory explanation of attachment