Debates - free will and determinism

• Define free will vs determinism.

  The free will vs determinism debates argues whether humans have choice in how they behave (free will) or whether their behaviour is dictated by factors outside of their control (hard determinism).
• What is free will in psych

  The free will perspective proposes that humans have full control over their behavior, meaning their actions are not dictated by external factors.
• Give an example of free will in psych

  A key assumption of humanistic psychology is that everyone has free will, allowing individuals to make choices to progress through Maslow’s hierarchy and reach self-actualization.
• What is hard determinism?

  Hard determinism proposes that human behavior is dictated by factors outside of our control, meaning we do not have free will or choice in how we behave.
• What are the types of hard determinism?

  • Biological determinism – Behavior is dictated by biological factors like genes.
  • Environmental determinism – Behavior is dictated by external factors such as conditioning.
  • Psychic determinism – Behavior is dictated by unconscious processes.
• What is one strength of free will over hard determinism?

  Free will has positive implications for the criminal justice system, as it holds individuals responsible for their actions, justifying appropriate punishment.
• How does free will contribute to psychological health?

  Believing in free will helps individuals feel empowered to make changes, reducing feelings of hopelessness and improving mental health, particularly in conditions like depression.
• What is one strength of hard determinism over free will?

  Hard determinism is scientific, allowing researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships, leading to a better understanding of behavior and theory development.
• How does hard determinism help in developing countries?

  By identifying specific causes of disorders, hard determinism allows for targeted treatments, such as using medication to correct neurotransmitter imbalances.
• What is biological determinism?

  A type of hard determinism that proposes behavior is dictated by biological factors such as genes, neurochemistry, and brain structures.
• Give an example of biological determinism in psych.

  The genetic explanation for OCD suggests that an underactive COMT gene and an overactive SERT gene contribute to the disorder.
• What is a strength of bio determinism?

  It has supporting evidence from twin studies, showing higher concordance rates for OCD in MZ twins than DZ twins, suggesting genetic influence.
• How has biological determinism led to practical application?

  It has led to drug therapies, such as antipsychotics to reduce dopamine activity in schizophrenia, which have been effective in many individuals.
• What is environmental determinism?

  A type of hard determinism that suggests behavior is dictated by environmental factors like conditioning.
• Give example of environmental determinism in psych.

  The two-process model of phobias explains that they develop through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning.
• What evidence supports environmental determinism?

  The Little Albert study demonstrated that a child could be classically conditioned to fear a white rat, supporting the idea that environment shapes behavior
• How has environmental determinism led to practical application?

  It has led to exposure therapies like systematic desensitization, which helps treat phobias by counter-conditioning fear responses.
• What is psychic determinism?

  Psychic determinism is a type of hard determinism which proposes that behaviour is dictated by the unconscious mind
• Give an example of psychic determinism in psych

  The psychodynamic explanation for gender development suggests it is an unconscious process through the Oedipus/Electra complex, where a child identifies with their same-sex parent and internalizes gender behaviors.
• What is a limitation of psychic determinism?

  It is unscientific because the unconscious mind cannot be directly accessed or tested, making it unfalsifiable and reducing its credibility.
• What is a strength of psychic determinism?

  it has practical applications, such as psychoanalysis, which helps uncover unconscious conflicts to treat psychological disorders.
• What is soft determinism?

  Soft determinism is a middle-ground perspective that acknowledges behaviors can be influenced by internal or external factors (determinism) but that individuals can exercise control over them (free will).
• Give an example of a soft determinism in psych

  Ellis’ ABC model suggests that while depression can be triggered by a negative event (deterministic element), the way an individual thinks about it (free will element) determines whether they develop depression.
• What is a strength of soft determinism?

  It has positive implications for the criminal justice system as it recognizes some element of choice in behavior, ensuring offenders take responsibility for their actions.
• What is a limitation of soft determinism?

  It is unscientific because it includes an element of free will, making it difficult to establish cause and effect in human behavior.
• What is meant by the scientific emphasis on casual explanations?

  Science focuses on establishing cause-and-effect relationships, allowing human behavior to be predicted, controlled, and modified.
• What are the key steps in establishing causal explanations?

  • Manipulate an independent variable (cause).
  • Control all other variables.
  • Measure the dependent variable (effect).
  • Conclude that changes in the DV result from the IV.
• Why are deterministic explanations considered more scientific than free will explanations?

  Deterministic explanations identify specific causal factors that can be tested and manipulated, whereas free will explanations lack identifiable causes, making them difficult to test scientifically.
• What is the free will vs. determinism debate?

  The debate examines whether human behavior is determined by external/internal forces (determinism) or if individuals have the ability to make choices (free will).
• What are the different types of hard determinism?

  • Biological determinism – Behavior is caused by genes and neurochemistry.
  • Environmental determinism – Behavior is shaped by external experiences and conditioning.
  • Psychic determinism – Behavior is driven by unconscious forces and early experiences.
• What is a key strength of free will over determinism?

  Free will has positive implications for the criminal justice system as it holds individuals accountable for their actions, ensuring appropriate punishment.
• What is a key strength of determinism over free will?

  Determinism is scientific, as it allows researchers to identify cause-and-effect relationships and develop theories based on measurable factors.
• Why is soft determinism considered a middle ground in the debate?

  It acknowledges that behavior is influenced by determinism (external/internal factors) but also recognizes an individual’s ability to exercise free will over their decisions.
• What evidence supports soft determinism?

  The differential association theory suggests that people exposed to pro-crime attitudes may engage in criminal behavior, but not everyone in a pro-crime environment becomes a criminal, showing that individuals still have choice.