Free will - Determinism

Question 1

what is the FREE WILL & DETERMINISM debate?

Answer 1

The extent to which our behaviour is the result of forces over which we have no control or whether people are able to decide for themselves whether to act or behave in a certain way.

Question 2

What is free will?

Answer 2

the view that people can control their behaviour by making choices and so can override any biological or environmental influences

Question 3

What is determinism?

Answer 3

This is the view that free will is an illusion, and that our behaviour is governed by internal or external forces over which we have no control. Consequently, our behaviour is viewed as predictable. The following are classed as strongly determinist views: · Peoples’ behaviour always has a cause. · People have no choice about how to act.

Question 4

What are the 5 types of determinism?

Answer 4

hard, soft, biological, environmental and psychic

Question 5

What is hard determinism?

Answer 5

This is the view that forces outside of our control (e.g., biology or past experience) shape our behaviour. Hard determinism is seen as incompatible with free will.

Question 6

What is soft determinism?

Answer 6

This is the view that behaviour is constrained by the environment or biological make-up, but only to a certain extent and that there is an element of free will in all behaviour.

Question 7

What is Biological determinism

Answer 7

(a form of hard determinism): the view that all human behaviour is innate and determined by genes.

Question 8

What is Environmental determinism?

Answer 8

(a form of hard determinism)
the view that behaviour is caused by forces outside the individual. Consequently, behaviour is caused by previous experience learned through classical and operant conditioning.

Question 9

What is Psychic determinism?

Answer 9

The claim that human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives (id, ego, and superego) put forward by Freud’s model of psychological development.

Question 10

what is the scientific emphasis on causal explanations

Answer 10

The focus of scientific (empirical) evidence has led to an upsurge in determinist theories as determinism is thought to be underpinned by causation. A determinist argument must be able to show that the behaviour has been caused (determined) by something that is not within the individual’s control. This can only be demonstrated using a lab experiment - if there is a change in the DV when all EVs are controlled, then the IV must be responsible for the change (determined it)

Question 12

What’s an example of biological determinism in psychopathology?

Answer 12

The biological approach suggests that OCD is genetic. Nestadt et al (2000) found that people with first degree relatives who suffer from OCD are five times more likely to suffer from OCD at some point in their lives.

Question 13

Give an example of Environmental determinism in psychopathology

Answer 13

The behaviourist approach suggests that phobias are acquired through classical, and maintained through operant, conditioning.

Question 14

Give an example of Soft determinism in psychopathology

Answer 14

The fact that the autonomic nervous system prompts an automatic response is strictly determinist. However, in less life-threatening but potentially stressful situations, such as traffic jams and workplace pressure, it could be argued that we have an element of choice as to whether we see the situation as stressful or not. The fact that hardiness can be taught would suggests that we can choose to look at such situations in another way. This suggests that there may be an element of free will in our perception of stress.

Question 15

Give an example of freewill determinism in addiction

Answer 15

Psychologists who use cognitive behavioural therapy encourage patients to change their irrational and negative cognitions. CBT is effective in treating addiction and depression which suggests that we have free will over our cognitive biases which are causing the maladaptive behaviour.

Question 16

What are the evaluative points of the determinist approach?

Answer 16

A strength of taking a determinist approach is that it is consistent with the aims of science
A strength of taking a determinist approach is that it is consistent with the aims of science.
A limitation of genetic and environmental determinism is that neither is supported by strong evidence
P A limitation of determinist explanations is that they tend to oversimplify human behaviour.
An implication of accepting a deterministic approach to explaining human behaviour is that individuals would not be seen as responsible for their own behaviour.

Question 17

A strength of taking a determinist approach is that it is consistent with the aims of science…

Answer 17

The notion that human behaviour obeys laws places psychology on an e qua l footing with other more established sciences. In addition, the value of determinist research is that it has led to the development of treatments, therapies, and behavioural interventions. These treatments have benefitted many – for example, psychotherapeutic drug treatment in controlling and managing schizophrenia.

This is a strength because determinist psychology has led to very significant practical applications.

Question 18

A strength of taking a determinist approach is that it is consistent with the aims of science…

Answer 18

The notion that human behaviour obeys laws places psychology on an e qua l footing with other more established sciences. In addition, the value of determinist research is that it has led to the development of treatments, therapies, and behavioural interventions. These treatments have benefitted many – for example, psychotherapeutic drug treatment in controlling and managing schizophrenia.

This is a strength because determinist psychology has led to very significant practical applications.

Question 19

A limitation of genetic and environmental determinism is that neither is supported by strong evidence…

Answer 19

For example, studies that compare MZ twins find about 80% concordance on intelligence and about 40% for depression.

E However, as identical twins share 100% of their genes, these results suggest that a significant (and variable) proportion of behaviour must be caused by other (environmental) factors. Such findings clearly suggest that genes do not entirely determine behaviour and that biological determinism therefore provides an incomplete explanation of behaviour. However, these high concordance rates also show that environment cannot be the sole determining factor in behaviour as there would seem to be at least some genetic input. Consequently, environmental explanations cannot fully account for behaviour either.

Question 20

A limitation of determinist explanations is that they tend to oversimplify human behaviour…

Answer 20

They may be appropriate for non-human animals (e.g., explaining mating behaviour in a peacock in terms of biological factors), but human behaviour is less rigid and is influenced by many factors such as cognitions and emotions which can override biological impulses.

This is a limitation because determinist explanations might not provide a valid explanation of human behaviour.