A03

• strength- research(LOC)

  • Robert et al. found that adolescents with an internal locus of control (an individual’s idea of what controls events in their lives) 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 healthsupports the idea that free will can be used to help us determine what controls our life events, and so we make such conscious decisions. allowing cause and effect relationships to be established
• limitation- distressing

  • idea of free will can be distressing to some,those 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 luck
• limitation- 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(operant conditioning). This is a hard deterministic stance. 
  • for example, negatively reinforced to avoid dogs, not out of choice
• Also seen as more in line with judicial system, stops people blaming external factors for the reason of crime.