Free Will vs. Determinism Debate

Key Points for Introduction A01

- 6 marks - has occupied an important theoretical position. - Free will definition - Deterministic definition (list different types) - Biological determinism - behaviour controlled by genetics - MAOA gene - Tiihonen et al - Psychic determinism - result of childhood experiences and innate drives - Freud's model of psychological development. - Environmental determinism - behaviour caused by previous experiences, learned through classical and operant conditioning. - Human psychologists would argue against determinism - claiming that humans have self-determination and free-will.

Key points for A03 Evaluation Paragraph 1

- For Humanistic Argument/Against determinism - Point: Humanistic psychologists argue against determinism and for free will - claiming humans have self-determination and free will. - Evidence: Furthermore, evidence to support this claim - twin studies found an - 80% similarity in intelligence scores, & 40% similarity in the likelihood of depression - Explain 1: Twins share 100% of genes, study suggests 20% is caused by other factors. Demonstrates biological determinism cannot *fully* explain an particular behaviour, in this case, intelligence or depression. - Explain 2: Same study shows that no behaviour is completely deterministic - identical twins only show 80% *likehood* - assumed only 20% is caused by the environment highlighting a limitation with biological and environmental determinism.

Biological determinism

- claims that our behaviour is entirely the result of genetic factors. - For example, research found that a particular gene MAOA gene is linked with aggressive behaviour and can be associated with violent crime (Tiihonen et al 2014).

Determinism

- is the view that free will is an illusion - that our behaviour is governed by internal and external forces over which we have no control, and of which we are often unaware. - in psychology take many forms, including biological, environmental, and psychic.

Humanist psychologists

- would argue against deterministic views. - claim that humans have self-determinination and free will and that behaviour is not the result of any single cause.

Structure for Free Will and Determinism

1 x A01 - Introduction & definition (with examples) *6 marks* 3 x A03 - Evaluation Paragraphs - e.g. (For) Humanistic Argument, Determinism Provides an 'excuse' and Free will is an Illusion.

A03: *Determinism Provides an 'Excuse' - Evidence*

For example, in 1981 Stephen Mobley argued that he was *'born to kill'* after killing a *pizza shop manager*, because his family had a disposition towards violence and aggressive behaviour. This argument was *rejected* by an American court.

A03: *Humanistic Argument - Evidence*

Furthermore, there is evidence to support this claim. Identical twin studies typically find : - an *80% similarity in intelligence scores* and - a *40% similarity in the likelihood of depression.*

A03: *Humanistic Argument - Explain 1*

However, as identical twins share 100% of their genes, these results suggest that 20% is caused by other (environmental) factors. This demonstrates that biological determinism is unable to *explicitly* explain any particular behaviour, in this case, depression and intelligence.

A03: *Humanistic Argument - Point*

Humanistic psychologists would argue against the idea of determinism claiming that humans have self-determination and free-will.

A03: *Free Will is an Illusion - Evidence*

In addition, more recent evidence provides some support for Skinner's claim. For example, Libet et al. (1983) found that the motor regions of the brain become active before a person registers conscious awareness of a decision, i.e. the decision to move the finger was actually a pre-determined action of the brain.

Introduction of Free will and Determinism

In psychology, the free will vs. determinism debate has occupied an important theoretical position.

A03: *Free Will is an Illusion - Explain 2*

It is clear that psychologists do not favour either a hard determinism pr am entirely free will point of view. Therefore, a soft determinism perspective that recognises an element of free will is probably the most appropriate.

A03: *Determinism Provides an 'Excuse' - Point*

Many psychologists, theorists and legal experts do not favour a deterministic point of view. If behaviour is determined by outside forces, that *provides a potential excuse* for criminal acts.

A03: *Free Will is an Illusion - Point*

The idea of free will has attracted similar criticisms. Some psychologist, such as Skinner, argue that free will is an illusion.

A03: *Humanistic Argument - Explain 2*

The same evidence indicates that no behaviour is *completely* environmentally determined. If identical twins only show an 80% likeness in terms of intelligence, it is therefore assumed that only 20% is caused by the environment highlighting a limitation with biological and environmental determinism.

A03: *Determinism Provides an 'Excuse' - Explain*

Therefore, a hard deterministic view point maybe undesirable as it provides an 'excuse', allowing people to lessen their own liability and could lead to a disturbance on the legal side regarding nature of responsibility and intent (mens rea).

A03: *Free Will is an Illusion - Explain 1*

This strongly suggests that many responses are biologically determined band that although we may believe that we have free will, Skinner's claim that free will is an illusion, may be correct.

Psychic determinism

claims that human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives, as in Freud's model of psychological development.

Environmental determinism

claims that our behaviour is caused by previous experiences, learned through classical and operant conditioning.

Free will

is the view that people control their own behaviours by making real choices amongst alternative possibilities