free will vs determinism

• key term - free will

  the notion that humans can make choices and their behaviour/thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces
• key term - determinism

  the view that an individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individuals will to do something
• key term - hard determinism

  the view that all behaviour is caused by something (internal or external factors), so free will is an illusion
• key term - soft determinism

  the view that behaviour may be predictable (caused by internal/external factors) but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities (restricted free will)
• key term - biological determinism

  the belief that behaviours is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control.
• key term - environmental determinism

  the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward (token economies) and punishment) that we cannot control.
• key term - psychic determinism

  the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control.
• the free will v determinism debate

  The free will determinism debate = is our behaviour a matter of free will or are we the product of a set of internal and or external influences that determine who we are and what we do.

  Most approaches in psychology are determinist to some extent.
• key concepts of the debate - free will

  
  

  The notion of free will suggests human beings are self determining and free to chose their own thoughts and actions. A belief in free will does not deny there may be biological and environmental factors that exert some influence on behaviours, but nevertheless implies we are able to reject these forces if we wish as we are in control of our thoughts/behaviours (HUMANISTIC APPROACH)
• key concepts of the debate - determinism

  Determinism propose that free will has no place in explaining behaviour

  Hard determinism (fatalism) – suggests all human behaviour has a cause & it should be possible to identify & describe the causes. This is compatible with the aims of science -> assume that what we do is dictated by internal/external forces that we cannot control. (for some this is too extreme a position)  
• key concepts of the debate - soft determinism

  Soft determinism – the philosopher James 1890 was the 1st to put forward the notion of soft determinism (a position that later become important feature of cognitive approach). James thought that scientists should explain the determining forces acting upon us, but we still have freedom to make choices.
• key concepts of the debate - types of determinism - biological determinism

  Biological determinism – the biological approach emphasises the role of biological determinism in behaviour, such as the influences of the autonomic nervous system on the stress response or the influence of genes on mental health. Modern biological psychologists would recognise the mediating influence of the environment on our biological structure. Hormones may determine actions – role of testosterone in aggression
• key concepts of the debate - types of determinism - environmental determinism

  Environmental determinism – Skinner described free will as an illusion and argued that all behaviour is the result of conditioning. Although we might think we are acting independently -> our experience of ‘choice’ is the sum total of reinforcement contingencies that have acted upon us throughout our lives. Our behaviour has been shaped by environmental events & agents of socialisation
• key concepts of the debate - types of determinism - psychic determinism

  Psychic determinism – Freud also though that free will is an illusion but placed emphasis on biological drives and instincts underpinning psychological responses rather than conditioning. Freud’s psychic determinism sees behaviour as determined and directed by unconscious conflicts repressed in childhood. E.g., even a seemingly random slip of the tongue (paraplexes) are determined by the unconscious.
• key concepts of the debate - the scientific emphasis on causal explanations

  
  

  A basic principle of science is that every event has a cause and these can be explained by general laws. Knowledge of these allows scientists to predict and control events.

  Knowledge of causes and the formulation of laws are important as they allow scientists to predict and control events in the future.

  In psychology lab experiments let researchers demonstrate causal relationships – it is like the test tube used in other sciences where all variables can be controlled.