Free will and determinism

• Free will


  Humans make choices that aren't determined by biological or external forces
• Determinism


  Individuals' behavior is caused by external or internal factors
• Hard determinism


  • All behavior is caused by something
• Soft determinism


  • Behavior is predictable and done by personal choice
• Biological determinism


  • Behavior has biological influence that we cannot control
• Environmental determinism

  • Behavior has environmental influence that we cannot control
• Psychic determinism


  • Behavior is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control
• Belief in free will doesn't deny that there may be biological or environmental factors that influence behavior; but believe we can reject it as we are in control
• Free will advocates a humanistic approach
• Hard determinism


  • All human behavior has a cause and it is possible to identify them
• Soft determinism


  • James thought although it's the scientist's job to determine behavior, it doesn't take away the freedom that we have to make irrational choices every day
• Types of determinism

  • Biological determinism
  • Environmental determinism
  • Psychic determinism
• Biological determinism


  • Biological approach emphasizes the role of biological determinism in behavior, e.g., influence of autonomic nervous system on stress response
• Environmental determinism

  • Skinner stated free will as an illusion and behavior is due to conditioning. Behavior is due to reinforcement that acted upon us throughout our lives
• Psychic determinism


  • Fraud believed free will is an illusion but influenced by biological drives and instincts; determined human behavior was due to conscious conflicts (no such thing as accident)
• The scientific emphasis on causal explanations: Every event has a cause and can be explained through general laws. Lab experiments enable research to demonstrate causal relationships
• Practical value: We exercise our choice every day. Roberts et al. looked at adolescents who believed in fatalism and found adolescents were at greater risk of developing depression. People who show an external rather than internal locus of control are less likely to be optimistic. Even if we do not have free will, the belief has a good impact on behavior
• Brain scan evidence doesn't believe in free will but determinism: Libet et al. told participants to flick their wrist anytime while measuring brain activity. They had to say when they had the conscious will to move it. Unconscious brain activity to the conscious decision to move came about half a second before participants decided to move. Interpreted as even our free will experiences are determined by our brain
• Libet's findings about the brain being involved in decision-making is what we expect: Just because action comes before conscious awareness doesn't mean there was no decision to act. Evidence is not appropriate to challenge free will
• The position of the legal system on responsibility: Hard determinism isn't consistent in the legal system, as in a court of law, offenders are held responsible for their actions. Determinism doesn't work in the real world