Free Will vs Determinism

• Scientific determinism (all experimental psych)

  • behaviour has a cause and effect that can be objectively tested
  • no free will

  Biological determinism (bio approach)

  • Internal body activity
  • genetics, brain structure, neurochem, evolution
  • no free will

  Environmental determinism (behavioural)

  • external experiences only
  • blank slate, nothing predisposed
  • no free will

  Psychic determinism (psychodynamic)

  • unconscious instincts, drives and unresolved conflicts
  • distribution of libido in id, ego, super ego
  • completion of psychosexual stages
  • no free will
• Free Will - Humanistic approach

  • affected by subjective experience and individual choice
  • can only be understood on individual level
  • behaviour is self determined so have free will to make choices

  Moral Responsibility - Cognitive approach

  • choice and free will based on principle of moral responsibility where individual is in charge of own actions
  • society also based on this (legal system) as we are held accountable
  • if we reject free will, we reject responsibility which would make society break down
• AO3

  • undesirable in real life - determinism gives excuse to immoral behaviour, e.g. killing of pizza shop manager, ’born to kill’ due to family violence, excuses criminal responsibility
  • free will is an illusion - skinner, choices determined by previous reinforcement history, may only be relevant in individualistic society
  • interactionist approach - explain by free will but also consider environmental factors