free will

• Free will- Individual has power to make choices about their behaviour without being determined by internal or external forces.
• example- The Humanistic Approach — Humanistic psychologists argue that self-determinism is a necessary part of human behaviour. Rogers (1959) claimed only when an individual takes self-responsibility is personal growth or ‘self-actualisation’ possible. 
• law- Moral responsibility — The law states that children and those who are mentally ill do not have this responsibility but other than this, there is an assumption that normal adult behaviour is self-determined and take full responsibility for the behaviour- free will approach more in line with judicial system
• + Free will has good face validity — In everyday scenarios, we appear to be making our own decisions. Therefore, the idea of free will has good face validity because we appear to have free will in our day to day lives.
• — Illusion of free will — A person may choose to do something, but these choices are determined by previous reinforcement contingencies, as suggested by the behaviourist approach. This is a hard deterministic stance. 
• limitation- idea of free will can be distressing to some, not being able to take conscious responsibility for their own actions
• however- free will allows individuals to feel responsible for their own actions which gives them greater self-esteem and confidence. It also means that they can take credit for good deeds and achievements rather than feeling like everything was predetermined by fate or genetics.
• Free will


  Has high internal validity
• Adolescents with an internal locus of control


  Are less likely to develop depression and are more likely to have better mental health, compared to those with an external locus of control
• Differences in LOC and mental health states supports the idea that free will can be used to help us determine what controls our life events, and so we make such conscious decisions
• Free will is seen as more in line with judicial system, stops people blaming external factors for the reason of crime