free will and determinism

• define free will in psychology?


  the assumption that humans direct their own behaviour and are responsible for their actions
• define determinism in psychology?


  the assumption that human behaviour is directed by forces outside of the individual's control
• free will is the ability to behave the way we consciously choose - our actions are voluntary
• the humanistic approach is the strongest advocate of human free will in psychology, arguing that we are able to direct our live towards self-chosen goals
• person centred therapy is based in the assumption of free will because the individual is seen to have the power to solve their own problems
• define hard determinism?


  sees free will as an illusion and believes that every action has a cause
• define soft determinism?


  represents a middle ground, people are viewed as having a choice, but that choice is constrained by factors outside of the individual's control
• what are the 3 types of determinism?


  • biological
  • environmental
  • psychic
• the biological approach is deterministic, believing behaviour is determined by physiological processes such as the functioning of the brain, hormone system and genetics
• the behaviourist approach is deterministic. it believes that all behaviour occurs because there is a cause in the environment.

  • the approach regards behaviour as the product of the prior environmental associations, reinforcements and punishment
• social learning theory views behaviour as primary pre-determined by environmental causes. however the presence of mediating cognitive factors in this approach allow for some conscious decision making to influence behaviour

  • this approach would be described as taking the soft-determinism stance
• the cognitive approach adopts the soft determinism view. whilst acknowledging that there are some determining forces that restrict our behaviour, the cognitive approach also recognised the human capacity for conscious decision making
• the psychodynamic approach is deterministic and regards thoughts and behaviour as originating from the unconscious mind. unconscious factors such as the life and death instincts, childhood experiences and disturbing memories all strongly influence behaviour
• the humanistic approach the strongest advocate of human free will, arguing that we are able to direct our lives towards self-chosen goals. person centred therapy implies free will because the individuals is seen to have the power to solve their own problems