Free will-determinism debate

• What is free will?

  • suggests that humans are self-determining and free to choose their own thoughts/actions
  • we can reject any biological or environmental forces that can influence are behaviour
  • this is because we are in control
• Which approach advocates free will?

  • the humanistic approach
• What is determinism?


  • free will has no place in explaining behaviour
• What is hard determinism?

  • all human behaviour has a cause
  • assumes that everything we do is directed by external or internal forces that we cannot control
  • An extreme position
• What is soft determinism?

  • there are factors that determine our behaviour
  • but we have freedom to make rational conscious choices in everyday situations
• Which approach shows soft determinism?

  • the cognitive approach
• What are the types of determinism?

  • biological determinism
  • environmental determinism
  • psychic determinism
• What is the scientific emphasis on causal explanations?

  • lab experiments enable researchers to remove extraneous variables + attempt to control all variables
  • this will enable any change in DV to be caused by the manipulation of the IV
  • use of control enables researcher to infer cause and effect