Free will and determinism

• Determinism is the belief that behaviour is controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual and beyond their control. There are 3 types of determinism: biological, environmental and psychic.
• Biological determinism the view that behaviour is always caused by internal biological forces beyond our control, such as the influence of genes. For example, research on intelligence has identified particular genes in those with high intelligence, such as the IGF2R gene (Hill, 1999). Also, genes which affect brain structure and neurotransmitter production (eg - serotonin and dopamine) may also determine our behaviour, such as the CDH-13 and MAOA gene being candidate genes for criminality.
• Environmental determinism is the belief that behaviour is caused by previous experience through classical and operant conditioning. For example, phobias are a result of conditioning, as demonstrated by Watson’s study on Little Albert and Skinner’s Box (operant conditioning determining the behaviour of lab rats). These are external forces, over which we have no control.
• Psychic determinism is Freud’s theory of personality that suggests adult behaviour is determined by a mix of innate drives and early experience. These result in unconscious conflicts over which we have no control. For example, Freud’s psychosexual stages of development suggests that each stage is characterised by a conflict which, if unresolved, leads to fixation in adulthood (eg - anal expulsive personalities being the result of fixation at the anal stage).
• Hard determinism is the view that all behaviour can be predicted, according to the action of internal and external forces beyond our control, and so there can be no free will. For example, behaviourism suggests that all behaviour is the product of classical and operant conditioning, the biological approach sees behaviour as the product of genes and neurochemistry, whilst social learning theory suggests that behaviour is the product of vicarious reinforcement and mediational processes.
• Soft determinism is a version of determinism that allows for some element of free will and suggests that all events, including human behaviour, has a cause. For example, the cognitive approach suggests that individuals can reason and make decisions within the limits of their cognitive system.
• Free will is the idea that each individual has the power to make choices about their behaviour, without being determined by internal or external forces beyond their control. A common feature of the humanistic approach.
• Evaluating free will and determinism:

  • Free will has face validity - People have the conscious experience of agency, feeling like they have the ability to choose their actions. However, determinists would argue that the feeling is an illusion.
• Evaluating free will and determinism:

  • By assuming 'cause and effect' applies to all human behaviour, psychologists have successfully predicted and influenced behaviour. This is seen in biological determinism where symptoms of mental illnesses are related to neurotransmitter imbalances. This had led to the development of treatments to correct them.
• Evaluating free will and determinism:

  • As society currently assumes free will is correct, there are implications if we accept a fully deterministic view. If some people are genetically higher to have higher intelligence, this may affect access to education and employment, and if violent offending behaviour can be predicted, it may lead to interventions before a crime is committed.
• Evaluating free will and determinism:

  • Overly simplistic - Arguing behaviour is due to a single determining factor. it is more accurate to consider behaviour coming from a mix of multiple factors (holism). Additionally, Bandura's concept of reciprocal determinism suggests that while our environment shapes our actions, our actions also shape the environment.
• Evaluating free will and determinism:

  • Evidence for the role of free will - EEG research by Libet showed a 'readiness-potential' that appeared to make a decision less than a second before awareness of a conscious decision. Soon (2008) found through modern fMRI has that when asked to press a button with the left or right hand, a signal predicts which hand will be used, which is detectable seven seconds before the participant is consciously aware of making the decision. While controversial, this research suggests that the conscious choices we experience are an illusion.
• Limitations of determinism:

  • 100% genetic determinism is unlikely to be found for any behaviour. Studies that compare monozygotic twins have found 80% similarity for intelligence and 40% for depression. This suggests that genes do not entirely determine behaviour and supports an interactionist standpoint. The fact that concordance rates for MZ twins are often higher than for siblings, despite both sharing 50% of genes, may be due to MZ twins being more likely to share the same environment.
• Limitations of determinism:

  • Simplifies human behaviour - This may be appropriate for non-humans but human behaviour is less rigid and influenced by many factors (i.e. cognitive factors which can override biological impulses). For example, aggression cannot be simplified to the action of the endocrine system and adrenaline. There are cognitive factors and accompanying emotions which are just as, or more important, than the biological aspects.
• Limitations of determinism:

  • Determinist position may try and justify behaviours if a crime was committed. This is undesirable as it excuses their behaviour. Therefore, a hard deterministic stance is not in line with the principles of the judicial system, which sees individuals taking moral responsibility for their actions. Determinism has also led to treatment methods for mental disorders, such as depression through the control of serotonin by using SSRIs and SNRIs. This biological deterministic approach does not allow the use of other treatments which are not based on biological mechanisms.
• Humanistic psychologists argue self-determinism is a necessary part of human behaviour. Rogers (1959) claimed as long as a person remains controlled by others, they cannot take responsibility for their own behaviour and so cannot change it. Only when they take self responsibility is self-actualisation possible.
• Moral responsibility is the basis that an individual is in charge of their own actions. The law states children and those who are mentally ill do not have this responsibility. Other than this, there is an assumption that normal adult behaviour is self determined and so humans are held accountable for their behaviour, regardless of innate factors or early experiences.
• Strengths of free will:

  • High internal validity - Robert found 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. These differences in LOC and mental health 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.