Psychology of Free Will and Determinism

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Questions and Answers

What does soft determinism suggest about human behavior?

Behaviors are solely determined by genetics.

All behaviors are completely free.

All behaviors can be consciously controlled without external factors.

Humans have some choice but are influenced by factors. (correct)

Which statement reflects biological determinism?

Humans can control their behavior regardless of biological influences.

Free will allows humans to transcend biological limitations.

Genetic and hormonal influences are the primary causes of behavior. (correct)

Environmental factors solely determine one's actions.

What role does the environment play according to environmental determinism?

It only influences behavior through biological mechanisms.

It provides rewards and punishments that shape behavior. (correct)

It allows for complete freedom in making choices.

It has no effect on human behavior.

Which of the following best describes free will in the context of the content provided?

It involves personal responsibility for one's actions. Signup and view all the answers

What does B.F. Skinner argue about the experience of choice?

It is determined by previous reinforcement experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main distinction between soft determinism and biological determinism?

Soft determinism acknowledges some element of choice. Signup and view all the answers

Which approach claims that our behavior is shaped by prior experiences of reinforcement?

Environmental determinism Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of self-actualization imply in the discussion of free will?

It is necessary for humans to realize their full potential. Signup and view all the answers

What principle in science allows for the prediction and control of events?

General laws Signup and view all the answers

How does determinism align with the aims of science?

It facilitates the prediction and control of human behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What argument is often made against determinism in the context of the legal system?

It undermines moral accountability. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is associated with a higher degree of mental health according to the concept of free will?

Internal locus of control Signup and view all the answers

What did Benjamin Libet's neurological studies suggest about free will?

Decisions are made prior to conscious awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What is one criticism of the free will concept based on neurological studies?

Conscious awareness of decisions occurs after brain activity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the interactionist approach suggest?

A compromise exists between determinism and free will. Signup and view all the answers

What does Benjamin Libet mean by 'vetoing' decisions?

Exercising free will to change decisions after awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concept of psychic determinism in Freudian theory?

Every action has meaning and is goal directed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes hard determinism?

All actions are determined by external or internal forces, and causes can be identified. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding internal determinism?

It suggests personality traits are inherited and influence behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What approach aligns with external determinism in understanding human behavior?

Behaviorism and social learning theory. Signup and view all the answers

How does soft determinism differ from hard determinism?

It allows for free will while acknowledging some causal influences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a major influence on behavior in the context of social learning theory?

Parental influence and modeling. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental belief of B.F. Skinner regarding behavior?

All events and actions are caused by identifiable influences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best summarizes the implications of determinism for human behavior?

All behavior is shaped by past experiences and internal or external forces. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychic Determinism

Psychic determinism is a major assumption of Freudian theory
It suggests everything a person does has meaning and is goal-directed
It proposes all human behavior is determined by unconscious forces, motives, and conflicts
These forces stem from early childhood experiences and aren't under conscious control
Behavior and thoughts are shaped by the unconscious mind, while the conscious mind acts as an observer
Based on Freud's theories

Determinism

Determinism proposes behavior has a cause and is predictable
Free will has no role in explaining behavior; it's an illusion
Behavior is governed by internal or external forces beyond one's control
Mental events are not random; they have underlying causes that can be analyzed

External Determinism (Environmental)

External determinism views behavior's cause as outside the individual (e.g., parental influence, media, school)
Behaviorism and social learning theory support this viewpoint
An example is children becoming aggressive by observing and imitating violent parents (Bandura, 1961)

Internal Determinism

Internal determinism argues that evolution (sociobiology) and genetics govern species and individual behaviors
An example is a child's innate need for attachment figures (Bowlby, 1969)
Personality traits (e.g., extraversion, neuroticism) and associated behaviors are influenced by neurological and hormonal processes
Freud also believed behavior is controlled by unconscious motivations from within the individual.

Levels of Determinism

The two forms of determinism are hard determinism and soft determinism

Hard Determinism

Hard determinism views free will as an illusion, believing every event and action has a cause.
It's possible to understand and describe these causes.
External and internal forces determine all thought and actions.
Examples like committing a crime were seen as dictated by environmental or personal history
All behavior is under stimulus control

Soft Determinism

Soft determinism views people as having choices, but these choices are influenced by internal or external factors
This perspective is compatible with science.
Some behaviors are more constrained than others
Example: Poverty may encourage stealing (though is not the sole cause), driven by desperation

Biological Determinism

Biological determinism suggests behavior is caused by biological factors (genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) beyond one's control
Physiological and neurological processes affect behavior, such as the autonomic nervous system's response to stress.

Environmental Determinism

Environmental determinism posits that behavior is triggered by environmental factors
Reward and punishment systems within the environment influence all behavior
B.F. Skinner argued free will is an illusion, and behavior results from conditioning experiences
Experiences are the sum of reinforcement contingencies encountered throughout life (e.g., teachers, institutions)

Free Will

Free will suggests people have choices in their behaviour and actions.
Individuals are responsible for their actions
Free will, allows personal responsibility for actions, which is necessary for full human development as it is a unique aspect of humankind (Maslow, 1943; Rogers, 1951).

Psychology & Determinism

The basic principle in science is that events have causes.
General laws in science allow predictions and control of future events.
In psychology, laboratory experiments are used to control variables and predict human behavior.
Research methods in psychology, aimed at determining the causes of behavior have led to treatments, therapies, and behavioral interventions.

Arguments Against Determinism

Determinism and the legal system are incompatible because individuals will be held responsible for their actions;
Unfalsifiable; it proposes causes always exist even if they haven't been demonstrated

Arguments For Free Will

The concept of free will makes cognitive sense
People with an internal locus of control generally are more mentally healthy

Arguments Against Free Will

Neurological studies (like Libet's experiments) suggest decisions are made by the brain before we are aware.
Brain activity related to decisions occurs before conscious awareness.

Benjamin Libet

He was a neuroscientist who researched human consciousness and made contributions to the debate on free will.
His studies suggested that brain activity preceding a decision may precede conscious awareness of it.

Social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, suggests that learning occurs through observation, imitation, and modeling.
It's influenced by factors like attention, motivation, attitude, and emotions.
It emphasizes the interplay of environmental and cognitive elements in learning.

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Description

Explore the complexities of free will and determinism in psychology through this quiz. Delve into soft determinism, biological determinism, and environmental influences on human behavior, as well as the implications of B.F. Skinner's theories. Test your understanding of these foundational concepts and their impact on mental health.