Free will vs determinism

• What topics link to this debate

  • Biological approach -> hard and biological determinism
  • Psychodynamic approach -> Psychic determinism
  • Behavioural approach -> environmental determinism
  • Cognitive approach -> soft determinism
  • SLT -> environmental and slight soft determinism
  • Humanistic approach -> free will( Roger)
• Outline of debate

  Free will is the degree to which behaviour is chosen by ourselves and not determined by biological or external forces. Determinism is the degree to which behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal/external forces
• Hard determinism definition

  A form of determinism that suggests free will is not possible, our behaviour is always caused by internal/external events beyond our control. Suggests all behaviour has a cause.
• Soft determinism

  A form of determinism that believes all events, including human behaviour, have causes but can also be determined by our conscious choices. It gives room for manoeuvring in that people have conscious mental control over behaviour and freedom to make rational choices.
• The scientific emphasis on causal explanations

  A basic principle of science is that everything has a cause that can be explained using general laws. Knowledge of causes and making laws are essential to allow scientists to predict and control future events.
• Biological determinism

  A form of determinism that believes behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control
• Environmental determinism


  A form of determinism that believes behaviour is caused by features of the environment (like rewards and punishments) that we cannot control. I.e Skinner’s belief that free will is an illusion
• Psychic determinism 


  A form of determinism that believes behaviour is a form of determinism that believes behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts we cannot control