Are the decisions we make our own? Or are we just prisoners of fate? These questions have occupied the greatest minds in philosophy and psychology and continue to be debated. Free will and determinism are two sides of the same coin. Both seek to fathom the reasons and constraints of human behaviour and decision-making.
Fig. 1: The free will vs determinism debate is concerned with whether we have free choice when it comes to our actions or whether our behaviour is determined by factors outside of our control.
What is the Free Will and Determinism Philosophy Debate?
The free will and determinism debate is a philosophical debate that addresses the extent to which factors outside our control influence our behaviour. There are two extreme sides to the debate: either people always have free choice, or they never can control their behaviour.
Just like there are extreme sides to the debate, so too are softer sides.
The argument for free will stems from the assumption that humans have complete autonomy to make their own decisions.
On the other hand, the argument for determinism stems from the assumption that human behaviour is merely a result of internal and external forces acting upon us. Cause and effect dictate behaviour, i.e., our actions directly result from our past experiences, environment, and genetic makeup. According to this perspective, free will is an illusion.
We can differentiate between hard and soft determinism.
- Hard determinism holds that our behaviour is solely the result of factors beyond our control.
- Soft determinism allows some degree of free will. It acknowledges that some behaviours are more constrained than others, i.e., the degree of free will may vary depending on the behaviour and the situation.
Since external factors constrain individuals, their behaviour is predictable but not inevitable because they also have some free will.
Proponents of free will argue that while external factors can influence our behaviour, humans ultimately decide how and whether to respond to these factors. Consider the following example of a free-will perspective of behaviour.
If a poor person steals because they have no money to feed themselves, the free will position argues that they still decided to steal despite the external factors (e.g., poverty). The decision to steal was their own.
This can be contrasted with a deterministic understanding of the same scenario.
Proponents of determinism would argue that being born into a low-income family is an environmental constraint. Stealing food is not a choice made out of a free will but out of the need created by poverty. Poverty is the cause, and stealing is the consequence.
By looking at this scenario again, through the lens of soft determinism, we can get a more nuanced understanding of behaviour.
Proponents of soft determinism would argue that being born into a low-income family is an environmental constraint, but choosing to steal is an example of free will. This is true when other options exist, such as borrowing money or receiving support from the government.
Difference Between Determinism and Free Will in Psychology
Psychologists use the scientific method to investigate the causes and correlates of human behaviour. Behind this approach lies an assumption that our behaviour is determined or constrained by external factors.
Psychological studies support the cause-and-effect argument of determinists because it explains behaviour and shows that we may be motivated by our biology, past experiences, or environment.
The free will perspective in psychology would assume that, since individuals have complete free will to take any action they choose, it is also impossible to predict their behaviour accurately. While this approach doesn't align with the assumptions of scientific study, it has its benefits.
- It respects the dignity of humans, seeing them as active agents who can always turn their fate around and make wise choices whenever they have the option to do so.
Fig. 2: Who makes your choices? The deterministic perspective proposes that our choices are made by factors outside our conscious control, while the free will perspective argues that we always have a choice regarding our actions.
Examples of Free Will and Determinism
Let's look at psychological theories and how they are placed on the free will and determinism spectrum.
Humanistic Approach
One approach in psychology based on the belief in free will is humanistic psychology, founded by figures like Maslow and Rogers. The humanistic approach places the responsibility for people's actions on them.
Free will is the foundation of this approach, as humanistic psychology sees people as having the potential to take control of their destiny to reach self-actualisation (one's full potential).
- The process of self-actualisation will often require people to reflect on and subsequently change their behaviours in a way that best aligns with their subjective values and needs. To make these changes, we need to have the ability to make free choices.
The humanistic approach in psychology supports the concept of free will in humans.
Biological Approach
The biological approach in psychology studies how biological predictors influence our behaviour or psychological outcomes.
Biological determinism is the view that our biology is responsible for our behaviour. Biology includes our DNA, brain processes, and hormones, among other things.
According to the biological approach, our internal biological processes can determine our behaviour. Our actions are not carried out because of free will but are triggered by our neurochemical activity, nervous system and hormones.
If anxiety runs in the family, a person may be predisposed to suffer from anxiety. In stressful situations, the predisposed person’s nervous system may trigger specific responses that indicate anxiety, such as nail biting, rocking, or hyperventilation.
The biological perspective is also reflected in John Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment, which argues that humans are innately programmed to form an attachment to a primary caregiver.
He also noted that losing this attachment in the crucial first years of life can lead to long-term social, emotional, and cognitive damage and delinquent activity. On this basis, criminal activity can be predicted by past experiences such as maternal deprivation.
The biological approach in psychology supports biological determinism, which examines the influence of biology on behaviour.
Psychodynamic Approach
Sigmund Freud believed all behaviours had a ‘root’ motivation from the unconscious mind. Our choices are motivated by the unconscious rather than free will. This view is referred to as psychic determinism.
Psychic determinism views our behaviour as a result of preexisting mental or cognitive complexes; unconscious feelings such as fears, desires, and conflicts. These may have arisen during childhood or traumatic experiences.
Lorna experienced a car accident 7 years ago. Now she keeps postponing her driving lessons. At funfairs, she avoids bumper cars, saying she prefers rollercoasters. Psychic determinists would state that she is acting upon her unconscious fear of cars (specifically, the fear of crashing).
Freud’s theories about the Oedipus and Electra complexes in boys and girls explain how psychic determinism views behaviour. When boys and girls experience the Oedipus or Electra complex, they are likely to exhibit behaviours motivated by the desire to replace their parents of the same sex.
For example, boys may copy their father’s behaviour and act hostile towards him because of their unconscious desire to replace him.
The psychodynamic approach in psychology supports psychic determinism, which studies the influence of the unconscious on behaviour.
Learning Approach
Both behaviourism and Social Cognitive Theory can be used as examples of environmental determinism. Behaviourism focuses on the impact of learning from past experiences on our future behaviour, while the Social Cognitive Theory highlights the influence of the social environment we grow up in.
Environmental determinism views that external influences, such as past experiences, and the models in our lives and society, shape our behaviour. Our choices are the result of what we observe and what we are rewarded for during our upbringing.
If a child is punished for getting a bad mark by, for example, getting assigned extra homework, they are likely to be motivated to study more to avoid the punishment in the future.
Behaviourism would argue that learning, namely punishment and reward, influences a child’s future behaviour.
Several studies have demonstrated the influence of external factors on behaviour.
- Bandura’s Bobo doll study (1961) shows that children can exhibit physically and verbally aggressive behaviour when they see an adult doing the same thing. Bandura emphasises that behaviour emerges through observation and imitation.
- Skinner's animal studies have suggested that animal behaviour can be explained by conditioning and reinforcement.
The learning approach in psychology supports environmental determinism, examining the influence of external factors on behaviour.
Advantages and Problems of the Free Will and Determinism Debate
Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of the free will and determinism debate.
Evaluation of the Free Will and Determinism Debate |
|---|
| Free will | Determinism |
Advantages | - The free will argument has good face validity. In our daily lives, we feel like we are in control of our decisions.
| - Assuming a degree of determinism is necessary for the scientific study of human behaviour.
|
- The belief in free will promotes taking individual responsibility and can encourage individuals to make moral and wise choices.
| - Soft determinism acknowledges different degrees of free will in different situations and that external factors, to some extent, influence us.
|
- The argument holds individuals responsible for their actions and consequences, making legal accountability and punishment possible, affecting our justice system.
|
- Psychological studies have found many associations between external factors (e.g. social influence) and internal factors (e.g. personality) and behaviour, suggesting that human behaviour is not entirely independent of influence.
|
Limitations | - We know that some factors constrain our behaviour and decision-making (e.g. mental illness). Some circumstances can also constrain behaviour (due to coercion or lack of other options).
| - Deterministic assumptions make legal actions against individuals who commit a crime ethically problematic.
|
- Assuming free will makes it more challenging to study and generalise human behaviour.
| - Determinism undermines individuals' dignity and ability to make their own decisions and can encourage immoral behaviour.
|
Fig. 3: Without the belief that we have free will, we can lose a sense of morality and responsibility for our actions.
Free Will and Determinism - Key takeaways
- The free will and determinism debate is a philosophical debate that addresses the extent to which factors outside our control influence our behaviour.
- The argument for free will stems from the assumption that humans have complete autonomy to make their own decisions.
- Determinism proposes that human behaviour is merely a result of internal and external forces acting upon us. There is hard and soft determinism and biological, environmental, and psychic determinism to consider.
- Humanistic psychology is founded on free will, while biological, psychodynamic and learning approaches can be considered deterministic.
- Each perspective within the debate has important implications for how we view morality, study behaviour and implement punishment as part of the justice system.
References
- Figure 2 - A tiny person sits in a movie theater inside a human head, watching and hearing everything that is being experienced by the human being. An illustration of the Cartesian theater. by Jennifer Garcia (Reverie) is licensed by CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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