Free Will vs Determinism

• What is the central question regarding free will and determinism?

  Is behavior determined by influences or free will?
• What does the biological approach suggest about behavior?

  Causes are internal, influenced by nature or nurture
• What does the behaviorist approach emphasize?

  Behavior is determined by external factors
• What does the humanistic approach assert about free will?

  Humans are self-determining and free to choose
• How does the humanistic approach view biological and environmental factors?

  They can be rejected as we control our behavior
• What is hard determinism?

  All behavior has a cause beyond our control
• What is another term for hard determinism?

  Fatalism
• What does soft determinism suggest?

  We can make rational choices despite influences
• Who is associated with the concept of soft determinism?

  William James
• What does biological determinism emphasize?

  The role of biology in influencing behavior
• What does environmental determinism argue?

  Behavior results from conditioning and reinforcement
• Who described free will as an illusion?

  B.F. Skinner
• What is psychic determinism?

  Behavior is influenced by unconscious controls
• What does the biological approach lead to in terms of determinism?

  Biological determinism
• What does the cognitive approach lead to in terms of determinism?

  Cognitive determinism
• What does the behaviorist approach lead to in terms of determinism?

  Environmental determinism
• What does the social learning theory (SLT) lead to in terms of determinism?

  Reciprocal determinism
• What does the psychodynamic approach lead to in terms of determinism?

  Psychic determinism
• What does the humanistic approach lead to in terms of free will?


  Free will
• What are the arguments for and against determinism?

  Arguments for determinism:

  • Provides scientific explanations for behavior
  • Brain scan evidence supports determinism

  
  

  Arguments against determinism:

  • Cannot fully explain complex human behavior
  • Assumes no personal responsibility
  • Identical twins never show 100% concordance
• What are the arguments for and against free will?

  Arguments for free will:

  • Individuals with internal locus of control are healthier

  
  

  Arguments against free will:

  • Neurological evidence argues against free will
  • Decisions occur in the brain before conscious awareness
• What does Libet's (1983) study suggest about free will?

  Conscious decisions occur after brain activity
• How does the evaluation of free will challenge its existence?

  Brain evidence suggests decisions are predetermined
• What does the timing of brain activity in Libet's study imply?

  Decisions may be determined before awareness
• What does the conclusion about free will suggest regarding conscious awareness?

  Conscious awareness does not negate decision-making
• What is the relationship between free will and determinism in psychology?

  • Free will suggests individuals can choose actions
  • Determinism argues behavior is influenced by factors
  • Both concepts are debated in psychological theories