Free Will vs Determinism in Psychology (Issues and Debates)
Free will VS Determinism
FREE WILL
The notion of free will suggests that as human beings we are essentially self-determining, and free to choose our thoughts and actions. A belief in free will does not deny that there may be biological and environmental forces that exert some influence on our behaviour, but implies that we are able to reject these forces as the masters of our own destiny. This view is held by the humanistic approach.
The notion of free will suggests that as human beings we are essentially self-determining, and free to choose our thoughts and actions. A belief in free will does not deny that there may be biological and environmental forces that exert some influence on our behaviour, but implies that we are able to reject these forces as the masters of our own destiny. This view is held by the humanistic approach.
DETERMINISM
A belief in determinism proposed that free will has no place in explaining behaviour, because we have no choice in our actions. Our behaviours are shaped by our biology, learning and thoughts. There are different versions, known as ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ determinism.
A belief in determinism proposed that free will has no place in explaining behaviour, because we have no choice in our actions. Our behaviours are shaped by our biology, learning and thoughts. There are different versions, known as ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ determinism.
HARD DETERMINISM
Hard determinism is seen as incompatible with free will: it suggests that all human behaviour has a cause and, in principle, it should be possible to identify and describe such causes. It always assumes that everything we think and do is dictated by internal and external forces that we cannot control.
Hard determinism is seen as incompatible with free will: it suggests that all human behaviour has a cause and, in principle, it should be possible to identify and describe such causes. It always assumes that everything we think and do is dictated by internal and external forces that we cannot control.
SOFT DETERMINISM
William James (1890) put forward the notion of ‘soft’ determinism. Whilst acknowledging that all human actions have a cause, soft determinism also suggests that people have some conscious, mental control over the way they behave. This view is held by the cognitive approach.
William James (1890) put forward the notion of ‘soft’ determinism. Whilst acknowledging that all human actions have a cause, soft determinism also suggests that people have some conscious, mental control over the way they behave. This view is held by the cognitive approach.
BIOLOGICAL DETERMINSIM
Biological determinism refers to the belief that all human behaviour is innate, determined by genes, brain size, or other biological attributes that we cannot control. This view is held by the biological approach.
Biological determinism refers to the belief that all human behaviour is innate, determined by genes, brain size, or other biological attributes that we cannot control. This view is held by the biological approach.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM
Skinner described free will as an ‘illusion’ and argued that all of behaviour is caused by the environment (eg. through conditioning) that we cannot control. We may think that we are acting independently but our behaviour has been shaped by environmental events, as well as ‘agents of socialisation’ (eg. parents, teachers ect). This is the view held by the behaviourist approach.
Skinner described free will as an ‘illusion’ and argued that all of behaviour is caused by the environment (eg. through conditioning) that we cannot control. We may think that we are acting independently but our behaviour has been shaped by environmental events, as well as ‘agents of socialisation’ (eg. parents, teachers ect). This is the view held by the behaviourist approach.
PSYCHIC DETERMINISM
Freud agreed that free will is like an ‘illusion’. Psychic determinism sees human behaviour as determined and directed by unconscious conflicts, repressed in childhood. According to Freud, there is no such thing as an accident – and even something seemingly random or a ‘slip of the tongue’ can be explained by the underlying authority of the unconscious. This is the view held by the psychodynamic approach.
Freud agreed that free will is like an ‘illusion’. Psychic determinism sees human behaviour as determined and directed by unconscious conflicts, repressed in childhood. According to Freud, there is no such thing as an accident – and even something seemingly random or a ‘slip of the tongue’ can be explained by the underlying authority of the unconscious. This is the view held by the psychodynamic approach.
THE SCIENTIFIC EMPHASIS ON CAUSAL EXPLANATIONS
One of the basic scientific principles is that every event in the universe has a cause and that causes can be explained using general laws. Knowledge of causes and the formulation of laws are important as they allow scientists to predict and control future events. For instance, in Chemistry, it can be demonstrated how adding X chemical to Y chemical will result in Z reaction within the controlled environment of a test tube.
One of the basic scientific principles is that every event in the universe has a cause and that causes can be explained using general laws. Knowledge of causes and the formulation of laws are important as they allow scientists to predict and control future events. For instance, in Chemistry, it can be demonstrated how adding X chemical to Y chemical will result in Z reaction within the controlled environment of a test tube.
In Psychology, the laboratory experiment enables researchers to stimulate the conditions of the test tube and remove all other extraneous variables in an attempt to precisely control and predict human behaviour.
LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS…
SCHIZOPHRENIA - Both the genetic and biochemical explanations for SZ suggest that it is determines. However, in terms of treating SZ, there are elements of free will in cognitive therapy – so any successes in that area would suggest that Schizophrenics can choose to change their thinking.
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY – The explanations for offending, both biological and psychological, suggest a predominantly determinist stance, but when looking at interventions, such as anger management and restorative justice, it could be argued that there is an element of choice in their behaviour.
SCHIZOPHRENIA - Both the genetic and biochemical explanations for SZ suggest that it is determines. However, in terms of treating SZ, there are elements of free will in cognitive therapy – so any successes in that area would suggest that Schizophrenics can choose to change their thinking.
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY – The explanations for offending, both biological and psychological, suggest a predominantly determinist stance, but when looking at interventions, such as anger management and restorative justice, it could be argued that there is an element of choice in their behaviour.
DETERMINISM: FOR AND AGAINST
For: It is
consistent with the aims of science. The value of such research is that the
prediction and control of human behaviour has led to the development of
treatments, therapies and behavioural interventions that have benefitted many –
for example, drug therapy used in the treatment of Schizophrenia.
Against: The
hard determinist stance (that behaviour has no individual choice involved) is
not consistent with the way in which our legal system works – where offenders
are held morally responsible for their actions. Also, despite its scientific
credentials, determinism as an approach is unfalsifiable – it is based on the
idea that causes of behaviour will always exist even if they have not been
found yet, and therefore impossible to prove wrong! This therefore suggests
that the determinist approach to human behaviour may not be as scientific as it
first appears.
FREE WILL: FOR AND AGAINST
For:
Everyday experience ‘gives the impression’ that we are constantly exercising
free will through the choices we make each day. Choosing what to wear/eat ect.
This gives face validity to the concept of free will – it makes cognitive
sense.
Also, research suggests that people who have high internal locus of control (believing they have a high degree of influence over events and their own behaviour) tend to be more mentally healthy.
Roberts et al (2000) demonstrated that adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism – that their lives were ‘decided’ by events out of their control – were at significantly greater risk of developing depression.
This suggests that even if we do not have free will, the fact that we think we do may have a positive impact on mind and behaviour.
Also, research suggests that people who have high internal locus of control (believing they have a high degree of influence over events and their own behaviour) tend to be more mentally healthy.
Roberts et al (2000) demonstrated that adolescents with a strong belief in fatalism – that their lives were ‘decided’ by events out of their control – were at significantly greater risk of developing depression.
This suggests that even if we do not have free will, the fact that we think we do may have a positive impact on mind and behaviour.
Against:
Libet (1985) and Soon et al (2008) have demonstrated that the brain activity
that determines the outcome of simple choices may predate our knowledge of
having made such a choice.
Researchers found that activity related to whether to press a button with the left or right hand occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before participants report being consciously aware of making such decision.
This shows that even our most basic experiences of free will are decided and determined by our brain before we become aware of them.
Researchers found that activity related to whether to press a button with the left or right hand occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before participants report being consciously aware of making such decision.
This shows that even our most basic experiences of free will are decided and determined by our brain before we become aware of them.
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