Free will and determinism??

Has anyone got any notes/essays on this? I only know nature and nuture and reductionism, but im afraid these two probably wont come up

Reply 1

angelicgemini

Nature nurture will come up, determinism as well.

I could give you an essay.

It's an A grade

Using psychological research to illustrate your answer, discuss arguments against free will

Using psychological research to illustrate your answer, discuss arguments against free will
Many theories are determistic, in psychology, thus this supports the argument against free will. Behaviourists are determinists. Determinists claim that the nature of the universe is such that it is governed by certain universal scientific laws, so that each action is caused by a specific prior cause, and human action is no exception. They believe that precise prediction of human behaviour is possible if an individual’s current stimulus situation is known and if there conditioning history is also known. Skinner argued that all behaviour is determined by environmental events and that humans tend to repeat behaviours that are rewarded. Skinner stated that free will was simply an illusion. However, Bandura, a neobehaviourist, believed in reciprocal determinism and pointed a flaw in Skinners approach. If people’s actions are solely determined by the external rewards and punishments then people would be like weather vanes constantly changing direction to conform to the whims of others. Bandura stated that people have long-term goals and strive to meet these rather than following others. Skinner focused exclusively on the nation that our behaviour is determined by the external environment however our behaviour also determines our environment. There are a number of different multi determinants of behaviour and Skinner largely ignored these.

The biological approach believes that behaviour is determined by a person’s genes and internal systems, which excludes the possibility of freewill. In regards to mental disorders this approach states that it is not the patients fault they are ill. Their biology pre-disposes them to certain conditions and therefore cannot be controlled unless their biological make up is manipulated. There has been some evidence that disorders such as schizophrenia are as a result of high levels of dopamine within the brain.

Freud believed that we are controlled by unconscious forces over which have no control and of which we are largely unaware. An essential part of this theory is a belief in ‘psychic determinism’- the view that events do not occur by chance, but are purposeful, being related to unconscious processes. Freud believed strongly in determinism. According to Freud, trivial phenomenons such as calling someone by someone else’s name are due to definite causes in the person’s motivational system. Freudian slips are involuntary but motivated errors that reveal a person’s true desires. The Psychodynamic approach believes that internal systems such as defence mechanisms determine the way people behave as adults. Freud’s theory proposes that adult personality is shaped by a mixture of innate drives and early experiences. Behaviour is driven by the libido, and if the child is frustrated or overindulged at any stage during development the child remains fixated on the erogenous zone for that state and its associated method of obtaining satisfaction. This in turn shapes the adult personality. Freud also believes that dreams were determined by unfulfilled wishes-unacceptable, id-driven thought is repressed from conscious thought and re-emerges in dreams. Freud stated that psychoanalysis is based on the belief that people can change their behaviour. He believed that if you made the unconscious wishes, conscious, then we have a possibility of free will.

However, arguments that could support free will is that Freud’s determinist theory of personality has little empirical support; at best research shows a correlation between early experience and later adult personality, but not that early experience causes adult personality. Freud’s view that dreams are caused by the re-emergence of repressed wishes considered unacceptable for conscious thought is partially supported by research by Solms. Solms found that irrational areas of the brain remain active during dreaming but the rational areas do not. An alternative theory for determinism in dreams are the neurobiological theories of dreaming, as they are also seen as determinist, seeing dreams are being determined by neural activity, although in lucid dreaming, dreaming is controlled by dreamer, and so could be seen as evidence of free will.

The humanistic approach embraces free will! Roger’s proposed a personality theory based on the concepts of self-determination (free will) and self actualisation. He suggested that taking responsibility for oneself is the route to healthy self development. Individuals who remain controlled by other people or other things cannot take responsibility for their behaviour so cannot begin to change it. Only when an individual takes self-responsibility is personal growth possible, resulting in psychological health. E.g., Jahoda’s view of ideal mental health suggests that abnormal behaviour occurs because individuals do not fulfil their full potential. Thus, she stated that human behaviour is driven by biological needs, but once these have been satisfied, other needs such as self actualisation become important. Also, Carl Rogers’ client-centred therapy (counselling) saw the therapist as a facilitator for the client to help them make sense of their current situation and future. This allowed the client to develop a sense of control over their future and to decide what is best for themselves. This suggests that healthy psychological development depends on owning your behaviour.

The humanistic approach, states that deterministic theories is too mechanistic. With regards to mental illness, Humanism is a result of the patient not being able to accept themselves or others around them. Therefore the humanistic approach believes illness is due to freewill and personal decisions. Humanistic psychology has been influential as a ‘third force’ in psychology, and offers a counterpoint to more determinist theories of personality. Humanistic views on behaviour are supported by research evidence on the experience of stress. The harmful effects of stress are reduced if a person feels more in control of events around them. For example, Kim et al. found that children who felt in control showed fewer signs of stress when their parents divorced. Our society assumes, we have free will, our legal system is based on free will and we personally believe we have free will, yet if we want to see psychology as a science, then we must continue to look for cause and effect.

Reply 2

U-Dawg

thank you!
So if they ask for arguments for free will, I use the points that support the view against free will as A01?

Reply 3

angelicgemini

If you use arguments for free will, then use against free will as AO2.
If you use arguments against free will, then use for free will as A02.

ah right, thanks xx

Is it helpful, it can be used for any determinism essay.

Reply 6

explosiive

Seriously contemplating just learning free will/determinism as everyone is sure it's gonna come up :|

Reply 7

SiaSiaSia

I have loads of notes, but I did free will and determinism for Philosophy, not psychology

It might be useful.

angelicgemini

Nature nurture will come up, determinism as well.

why do you say that?
nature nuture won't be an essay question will it as it was a 12 mrk Q last year?

Reply 10

angelicgemini

No, in January the two debates were reductionism and psychology as a science. So it's nature/nurture, also determinism.

Reply 11

U-Dawg

yeah i just figured it out too. they never repeat the debates questions

Reply 12

four44

Would anyone gamble with just learning one of these debates? As they might do one, coupled with a repeated one? Or should I just learn both?
After cramming individual differences and creating an answer to approaches that I'm hoping is broad enough to answer at least one of the two options my mind needs a new method to revise debates!!! :frown: