Free-will/determinism essay plan

Why is determinism socially sensitive?

As it suggests that behaviour is due to anything but free will - questioning the legal system, in which individuals are usually held accountable for their actions, by providing an environmental/biological/psychic alibi. EXAMPLE: Milgram provided obedience alibi suggesting that individuals shouldn't be held responsible for their actions

What is reciprocal determinism, and why is it a compromise?

Bandura suggested reciprocal determinism, in which all 3 factors of a person (individual factors, environment and behaviour) are in direct interaction with each other. This is a compromise in the debate as it suggests that although some things are predetermined e.g. the environment, this affects our behaviour, but we may choose to then move environment etc. Each factor has a reciprocal effect on the other

Define determinism

Determinism suggests that we have no choice and our behaviour is controlled by factor beyond our control.

Define free will

Free will suggests we have an ability to behave in the way we want, meaning our actions are voluntary and there are no restraints on choice from options available

Give a conclusion of the debate

Psychology increasingly puts an emphasis on scientific research - suggesting that hard determinism is the most appropriate answer to this debate, since it enables predictions to be made and tested. As we move in this direction, free will seems more like a belief system, but it is unwise to completely dismiss its validity. Soft determinism, which many psychologists now favour, may be a better approach, with ideas such as reciprocal determinism outlining a potential interaction between our decisions and forces beyond our control. It is likely that we have will, but it is very limited by other factors.

What did Libet find?

That decisions we amke can be tracked as neurological impulses up to 100ms before we act in this way. This has also been supported by modern studies conducted by Soon et al which found similar results.

Define biological determinism and give an example of this

The belief that our behaviour is due to biological influences external to our control. EXAMPLE: Buss' content analysis which found men have a preference for youth and women have a preference for power & resources

Define environmental determinism, and give an example of this

This is the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment that we cannot control EXAMPLE = Maurer's two process model

Define psychic determinism and give an example of this

This is the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious efforts we cannot control EXAMPLE = psychodynamic approach with concepts of Id, ego and superego, as well as defence mechanisms.

What does face validity mean?

This is the idea that free will can be seen as valid as we believe we make countless decisions everyday, and so this side of the debate is congruent with our experience of the world.

What is hard determinism and why is it more scientific?

This is the view that forces outside our control shape our behaviour entirely. This is completely incompatible with free will. This is more scientific because it suggests that human behaviour is orderly and obeys laws. This allows for hypothesis testing, in which predictions can be made and tested to establish cause and effect