Discuss the determinism-freewill debate. (16 marks)
Determinism is the idea that all human behaviours are controlled by internal or external forces that are
outside of our control. Biological determinism suggests that we are controlled mostly by biological infuences
such as genes, hormones and brain structure, although the concept of phenotype suggests that there may be
some environmental infuence. Environmental determinism suggests that we are controlled entrely by our
environment, for example conditoning and reward contngencies. Psychic determinism suggests that we are
controlled entrely by our unconscious; for example, Freud suggests that an anal retentve personality is due to
fixaton during the anal psychosexual stage.
Freewill is the idea that we control our own behaviour. Whilst it acknowledges that we may be
infuenced to some extent by other factors, it suggests that we are self-determining and are responsible for our
own behaviour.
Hard determinism does not allow for any freewill, and suggests only forces outside of out control
contribute to our behaviour, for example classical conditoning. Sof determinism suggests that we have some
freewill but only within certain constraints, as we are infuenced by determining forces, for example social
learning theory.
A limitaton of determinism is that it is not accepted by our society. Acceptng determinism as the basis
of our judicial system would mean that crime would be excused rather than punished, because criminals could
blame their genes or upbringing. Also, acceptng determinism within society could discourage certain groups of
people from self-actualising and could potentally justfy discriminaton; for example, Shockley claimed that
genetcs caused black Americans to score lower on +Q tests than white Americans, which could disempower the
ethnicity and lead to scientfic racism. Therefore, freewill is preferred as it does not cause the socially sensitve
conficts that determinism alludes to.
A strength of determinism is that it is consistent with the pure sciences by suggestng that behaviour is
predictable, and obeys general laws formulated through empirical, replicable experiments. However,
deterministc theories can also be unfalsifiable. For instance, it is impossible to prove or disprove that behaviour
is caused by the unconscious because the unconscious is inaccessible. Although the extent to which determinism
increases the credibility of psychology as a science is questonable, deterministc research should not be
abandoned as it provides beneficial practcal applicatons. For example, operant conditoning an
environmentally determinist concept has contributed to the development of token economy systems that
promote positve behaviour in prisons and psychiatric wards.
Acceptng freewill over determinism is associated with beter mental wellbeing, strengthening the
concept of freewill. Research suggests that individuals with an internal locus of control who believe that they
are in control of their lives are mentally healthier. Furthermore, client-centred therapy which is based on
freewill is very successful, potentally because it empowers clients and gives them confidence that they can
change their behaviours and cognitons. Despite this, the concept of freewill is weakened by the presence of
mental health disorders, as no one would choose to have a disorder.
Word count: 184 + 303
Determinism is the idea that all human behaviours are controlled by internal or external forces that are
outside of our control. Biological determinism suggests that we are controlled mostly by biological infuences
such as genes, hormones and brain structure, although the concept of phenotype suggests that there may be
some environmental infuence. Environmental determinism suggests that we are controlled entrely by our
environment, for example conditoning and reward contngencies. Psychic determinism suggests that we are
controlled entrely by our unconscious; for example, Freud suggests that an anal retentve personality is due to
fixaton during the anal psychosexual stage.
Freewill is the idea that we control our own behaviour. Whilst it acknowledges that we may be
infuenced to some extent by other factors, it suggests that we are self-determining and are responsible for our
own behaviour.
Hard determinism does not allow for any freewill, and suggests only forces outside of out control
contribute to our behaviour, for example classical conditoning. Sof determinism suggests that we have some
freewill but only within certain constraints, as we are infuenced by determining forces, for example social
learning theory.
A limitaton of determinism is that it is not accepted by our society. Acceptng determinism as the basis
of our judicial system would mean that crime would be excused rather than punished, because criminals could
blame their genes or upbringing. Also, acceptng determinism within society could discourage certain groups of
people from self-actualising and could potentally justfy discriminaton; for example, Shockley claimed that
genetcs caused black Americans to score lower on +Q tests than white Americans, which could disempower the
ethnicity and lead to scientfic racism. Therefore, freewill is preferred as it does not cause the socially sensitve
conficts that determinism alludes to.
A strength of determinism is that it is consistent with the pure sciences by suggestng that behaviour is
predictable, and obeys general laws formulated through empirical, replicable experiments. However,
deterministc theories can also be unfalsifiable. For instance, it is impossible to prove or disprove that behaviour
is caused by the unconscious because the unconscious is inaccessible. Although the extent to which determinism
increases the credibility of psychology as a science is questonable, deterministc research should not be
abandoned as it provides beneficial practcal applicatons. For example, operant conditoning an
environmentally determinist concept has contributed to the development of token economy systems that
promote positve behaviour in prisons and psychiatric wards.
Acceptng freewill over determinism is associated with beter mental wellbeing, strengthening the
concept of freewill. Research suggests that individuals with an internal locus of control who believe that they
are in control of their lives are mentally healthier. Furthermore, client-centred therapy which is based on
freewill is very successful, potentally because it empowers clients and gives them confidence that they can
change their behaviours and cognitons. Despite this, the concept of freewill is weakened by the presence of
mental health disorders, as no one would choose to have a disorder.
Word count: 184 + 303
