2022-2024 Year 13 A-Level Psychology - Issues & Debates: Free Will V Determinism DP
The free will perspective suggests individuals have full control over their behaviours, thoughts, and actions. It assumes people can reject both internal and external pressures, making conscious, voluntary choices.
What does free will suggest we are free to choose?
Our behaviours, thoughts and actions
Key Terms
What does free will suggest we are free to choose?
Our behaviours, thoughts and actions
What does free will believe we have the ability to reject?
Internal and external pressures
This side of the debate believes that we have the ability to self-determine our own destiny
Free will
This side of the debate argues that all behaviour is controlled and caused by external and/or internal factors
Determinism
What does determinism argue?
All behaviour is controlled and caused by external and/or internal factors
What does determinism say individuals do not have?
Free will over their behaviour
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What does free will suggest we are free to choose? | Our behaviours, thoughts and actions |
What does free will believe we have the ability to reject? | Internal and external pressures |
This side of the debate believes that we have the ability to self-determine our own destiny | Free will |
This side of the debate argues that all behaviour is controlled and caused by external and/or internal factors | Determinism |
What does determinism argue? | All behaviour is controlled and caused by external and/or internal factors |
What does determinism say individuals do not have? | Free will over their behaviour |
Topic evidence for free will comes from… | Humanism / Humanistic approach |
Which approach argues that humans are self-determining and provides topic evidence for free will? | Humanism |
Which type of determinism argues that individuals do not have any choice in the behaviour they display? | Hard determinism |
Which type of determinism argues that as individuals we also have the ability to make conscious decisions about what we want in life? | Soft determinism |
Hard determinism argues that individuals… | do not have any choice in the behaviour they display |
Soft determinism argues that as individuals we have… | the ability to make conscious decisions about what we want in life |
Vulnerability to developing OCD is caused by internal factors such as the inheritance of a mutated SERT gene which causes anxiety This is an example of… | hard determinism / biological determinism |
Topic evidence for soft determinism comes from… | Social learning theory |
Topic evidence for hard determinism comes from… | The biological explanation for OCD / SZ |
Social learning theory is topic evidence for which type of determinism? | Soft determinism |
How is social learning theory an example of soft determinism? | Our thought processes play a role as to whether or not we identify someone as a role model |
What does biological determinism argue that all human behaviour is controlled by? | Internal biological factors such as genetics, evolution and hormones |
Which type of determinism argues that all human behaviour is controlled by internal biological factors such as genetics, evolution and hormones? | Biological determinism |
Addiction to a substance/behaviour can be encouraged through lower levels of D2 receptors This is an example of… | Biological determinism |
What does environmental determinism argue that all human behaviour is controlled by? | External factors within individuals’ surroundings such as parents, society, schools, peers, upbringing, e.g. reinforcements and punishments |
Which type of determinism argues that all human behaviour is controlled by external factors within individuals’ surroundings? | Environmental determinism |
An infant learns to attach to their caregiver via stimulus, response, association with the food provided This is an example of… | Environmental determinism |
Topic evidence for biological determinism comes from… | Brain neurochemistry explanation of addiction / biological explanation of OCD / biological explanation of SZ |
Topic evidence for environmental determinism comes from… | Learning theory explanation of attachment / phobias / nicotine addiction / gambling addiction |
What does psychic determinism argue that all human behaviour is controlled by? | Unconscious conflict within the mind which have been repressed from early childhood |
Which type of determinism argues that all human behaviour is controlled by unconscious conflict within the mind which have been repressed from early childhood? | Psychic determinism |
Topic evidence for psychic determinism comes from… | Structure of personality (psychodynamic approach) |
A guilty/anxious personality could be caused by an overactive superego This is an example of… | Psychic determinism |
Deterministic research helps establish… | cause and effect |
What type of research method led to determinism? | Lab experiments where the IV is manipulated |
How can lab experiments be sure of what is controlling behaviour? | Due to controlling all extraneous variables in a lab setting |
Establishing cause and effect between the IV and DV has led to… | General laws of behaviour being created |
What has led to general laws of behaviour being created? | Establishing cause an effect between the IV and DV |
Determinism allows us to predict behaviour and to control/treat behaviour. This is a strength of… | practical applications |
How does determinism lead to practical applications? | Knowing the cause of abnormal behaviour allows us to develop treatments |
Hard determinism is inconsistent with the idea of self control and responsibility. This has implications for… | the British legal system |
Which type of determinism restricts the use of determinism in the real world e.g. the British legal system? | Hard determinism |
Which side of the debate has a more positive stance? | Free will |
How does free will have a more positive stance than determinism? | It allows people to believe they have control over their behaviour which may have a positive effect on mental health |