Free Will and Determinism

Quick Quiz Define free will Define determinism Define biological determinism Define environmental determinism Define psychic determinism Define scientific determinism Define hard determinism Define soft determinism Give an example of an approach that is hard determinism Give an example of an approach that is soft determinism Quick Quiz

Which quote goes where? Free will Biological Determinism Environmental Determinism Psychic Determinism

Free will

psychic

Biological

Environmental

Key Terms Match Up Key Term Definition Example in research Biological Determinism We are capable of self determination, free to choose, not acting in response to internal and external pressures. In control. Hard Determinism We are controlled by internal or external forces. Behaviour is predictable. Determinism Behaviour is caused by internal biological factors, e.g. genetics, neurochemistry, brain structure and hormones. Environmental Determinism Behaviour is caused by past experience and controlled by external forces in the environment, e.g. reinforcement and punishment. Psychic Determinism Unconscious forces and innate drives control behaviour. All we say and do has a cause. Scientific Determinism Scientific research presumes that all behaviour has a cause. A true scientific experiment manipulates the IV to measure the causal effect on the DV. Soft Determinism Behaviour is caused by events outside an individual’s control. Free will is an illusion. Free Will Behaviour is caused by a person’s own character or conscious desires. If our actions are voluntary and in line with our conscious desired goals, then they are free.

Approaches Timeline Free Will Determinism

In 1980-81, two British women escaped murder convictions by arguing that their legal responsibility was diminished by premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Sandie Craddock, an East London barmaid with 45 prior convictions, stabbed a fellow barmaid three times through the heart Christine English, after a quarrel with her lover, crushed him to death against a utility pole with her car. Interesting cases…

Interesting cases… Zimbardo will be an expert witness for several of the U.S. soldiers on trial, argued that situations pull people to act in ways they never thought imaginable. "That line between good and evil is permeable," Zimbardo said. "Any of us can move across it....I argue that we all have the capacity for love and evil-- to be Mother Theresa, to be Hitler or Saddam Hussein. It's the situation that brings that out."

One weakness of the determinism position is that is has negative implications for the judicial system For example, (Abu Ghraib) (PMT) This can also be an issue for the judicial system because… This can lead to a further issue because… AO3- 1

You will be shown a timer, counting down from 60s to 0s. At a time of your choosing, tap on the desk with your pen. Record the time at which you decided to tap on the desk

Libet’s (1985) study of voluntary action https://www. youtube 350ms electrical brain activity PP reports intention to act Onset of readiness potential Action carried out

The determinist stance It appears that the motor cortex was activated prior to the intention to act. Whilst this seems to support determinism it also suggests a balance. Libet’s compromise: The brain generates many possible ways of behaving Free will is the ‘chooser’ The determinist stance

One strength of the free will-determinism debate is that there is a middle ground between these two positions. Libet et al .83 found that… Whilst this appears to offer support to determinism it also suggests a balance. Libet compromised that the brain generates many possible ways of behaving and that free will is the ‘chooser’ This position is a strength because it takes account of the theoretical points from both sides. This is further supported by the original idea of William James who suggested that the physical realm is determined, whilst the mental operates on free will. AO3- 2

Would you rather free will or determinism if you were… Depressed Trans Gay Would you rather free will or determinism if you were…

AO3- 3 One weakness of determinism is that it removes responsibility. For example, the biological approach suggests that depression is caused by lack of serotonin, and not thought processes or emotions. This can be an issue because… On the other hand some may argue that for other groups, it would be beneficial… AO3- 3

Excellent exam questions

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