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The document discusses the concepts of free will and determinism in psychology, defining free will as self-determination in thoughts and actions. It distinguishes between hard determinism, which denies any control over behavior, and soft determinism, which allows for some control despite underlying causes. Additionally, it touches on biological, environmental, and psychic determinism, highlighting their roles in influencing human behavior.

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Lê Hoàng Tường Lâm
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5 views2 pages

Check Your Knowledge Questions

The document discusses the concepts of free will and determinism in psychology, defining free will as self-determination in thoughts and actions. It distinguishes between hard determinism, which denies any control over behavior, and soft determinism, which allows for some control despite underlying causes. Additionally, it touches on biological, environmental, and psychic determinism, highlighting their roles in influencing human behavior.

Uploaded by

Lê Hoàng Tường Lâm
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A-Level Psychology: Issues and Debates

Free Will and Determinism

1) Define free will:


The notion of free will suggest that we are essentially self-determining and free to choose our
thoughts and actions

2) Explain the difference between hard determinism and soft determinism.


Hard determinism suggest that people have no control over their behaviour
whatsoever and they are determined by other factors

Soft determinism says some behaviours have a cause, but people control over
the way they behave.

3) What is biological determinism?

refers to all human behavior is innate and determined by genes

4) Give an example of biological determinism:


Charles Whitman had a tumor in his head

5) What is environmental determinism?

Enviromental Determinism is the view that behavior is caused by forces outside the individual.

6) Give an example of environmental determinism:

7) What is psychic determinism?

8) Give an example of psychic determinism:

9) What is meant by the scientific emphasis on causal explanations in relation to the


freewill-determinism debate in psychology?
A-Level Psychology: Issues and Debates

EXT: Using an example explain what is meant by soft determinism.

STRETCH: Discuss the free will and determinism debate. Refer to two topics you
have studied in psychology in your answer. [16]

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