free will vs determinism

• What is determinism? 


  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.
• what is hard determinism?

  the view that forces outside of our control shape our behaviour. Hard determinism is seen as incompatible with free will.
• what are the 3 types of hard determinism?

  biological, environmental and psychic
• what is biological determinism?


  the idea that all human behaviour is innate and determined by genes, hormones, neurotransmitters and brain structures. E.G. depression is a result of low level of serotonin.
• what is environmental determinism?

  the idea that behaviour is determined or caused by forces outside the individual. Experiences learned through classical and operant conditioning as well as observational learning.
• what is psychic determinism?

  the idea that human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives that are unconscious which an individual has no control over.
• what is soft determinism?

  the idea that behaviour is constrained by the environment or biological make-up, but only to a certain extent. Soft determinism suggests that some behaviours are more constrained than others.
• what is free will?

  the idea that we can play an active role and have choice in how we behave. The assumption is that individuals are free to choose their behaviour and are self-determined.
• Evaluation for free will vs determinism

  1.Free will opposing research.

  • Soon et al 2008 foundthat the activity related to pushing a button with the left or right hand occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before the participants reported that they were consciously aware of making the decision.
  • Suggesting we don’t have free will and rather all our actions and behaviour is determined.

   
• evaluation of free will vs determinism

  2.Negative implications of determinism in society.

  • the legal system relies heavily on holding people accountable for their actions and assumes they have more responsibility. But hard determinism rejects this idea and thus causes havoc in the legal system as it plays the argument that criminals had no control over their actions or behaviour.
• evaluation of free will vs determinism

  3.face validity of free will.

  • people believe they are self-determining and have free will which does give a certain amount of face validity. To the belief in freewill which has important psychological benefits.