Free Will and Determinism: Philosophical Positions
The free will and determinism debate concerns how much human behaviour is the result of conscious, self-directed choices (free will) versus the result of internal or external forces beyond a person's control (determinism). Hard determinism holds that all behaviour is entirely caused, making free will an illusion, while soft determinism, associated with William James, holds that some actions still involve a genuine, if constrained, choice; psychologists distinguish biological, environmental and psychic sources of determinism.
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Method
- Learn the AO1 definitions: free will (the view that people can self-determine their own behaviour and are free to choose their thoughts and actions, not simply governed by internal or external forces), hard determinism (all behaviour is caused by factors outside our control, so free will is an illusion) and soft determinism (behaviour is caused, but some actions, especially higher mental processes, involve a genuine, constrained choice, associated with William James).
- Learn the three types of determinism with one named example each: biological determinism (e.g. behaviour is caused by genetic, neural or hormonal factors, such as genetic influences studied in disorders like OCD), environmental determinism (e.g. Skinner's argument that behaviour is entirely shaped by reinforcement and punishment from the environment), and psychic determinism (e.g. Freud's view that adult behaviour is determined by unconscious conflicts and early childhood experience).
- For an AO1 'outline' question, define the relevant term(s) precisely and give one concrete named example of each type of determinism referred to.
- For an AO2 application question, read the scenario, identify which type(s) of determinism or free will are being described, and justify the identification by linking the specific detail in the scenario to the precise definition.
- For an AO3 'discuss' or 'evaluate' question, plan two or three evaluation points before writing, such as: the scientific/practical value of a deterministic approach (cause-and-effect predictions make treatment and control possible, e.g. drug therapies developed from deterministic biological research), the philosophical/legal problem with hard determinism (the legal system assumes people can freely choose their actions and holds them morally responsible, which sits uneasily with a fully deterministic account of behaviour), and evidence suggesting a belief in free will may itself have practical benefits (research linking a stronger sense of personal control to better mental health and to learning more effectively from past mistakes).
- Build each evaluation paragraph using point, evidence, elaboration, link back (PEEL): state the evaluative point, support it with the relevant example, research finding or reasoning, elaborate on the consequence for the debate, then link the sentence explicitly back to whether it supports free will, hard determinism or soft determinism.
- Learn soft determinism as the balanced compromise position to use in a conclusion: it keeps psychology's commitment to lawful, causal explanation while still allowing for the subjective, everyday experience of making choices within the limits set by biological and environmental factors.
Worked example
A psychologist argues: 'A person's decision to start smoking is shaped by their genetic vulnerability to nicotine dependence and by growing up around family members who smoked, but the person still consciously chooses each time whether to buy another packet.' Identify the position on the free will/determinism debate this statement represents, and explain your reasoning.
- Identify that the statement acknowledges causal factors: genetic vulnerability (biological determinism) and being raised around smokers (environmental determinism).
- Note that the statement does not claim these factors make smoking inevitable; it explicitly says the person 'still consciously chooses' each time.
- Match this combination, causal factors plus a remaining area of genuine conscious choice, to soft determinism rather than hard determinism.
- Explain why it is not pure free will: the statement accepts that biological and environmental factors shape the person's vulnerability and habits, which free will alone would not acknowledge.
- State the final answer: the statement represents soft determinism, since it accepts that behaviour is caused by biological and environmental factors while still allowing for a constrained, conscious choice at the point of action.
Practice questions
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Q1What is hard determinism?Show answer
Answer: The view that all behaviour is caused by internal or external factors outside of our control, so free will is an illusion.
Q2What is soft determinism, and which psychologist is it associated with?Show answer
Answer: The view that behaviour is caused, but some actions, especially higher mental processes, still involve a genuine though constrained conscious choice; associated with William James.
Q3Give an example of biological determinism.Show answer
Answer: The idea that a genetic predisposition, such as an inherited vulnerability studied in disorders like OCD, helps determine a person's behaviour or tendency to develop a disorder.
Q4Give an example of environmental determinism.Show answer
Answer: Skinner's argument that behaviour is entirely shaped by reinforcement and punishment received from the environment, with no genuine free choice involved.
Q5Give an example of psychic determinism.Show answer
Answer: Freud's view that adult behaviour is determined by unconscious conflicts and experiences from early childhood.
Q6Which approach in psychology is most associated with the concept of free will?Show answer
Answer: The humanistic approach.
Q7Give one reason hard determinism creates tension with the legal system.Show answer
Answer: The legal system assumes people freely choose their actions and can be held morally responsible for them, which conflicts with the idea that behaviour is entirely caused by factors outside a person's control.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a A Level Psychology exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Outline what is meant by determinism in psychology, referring to two different types of determinism.
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A defence lawyer argues that her client's violent outburst was the inevitable result of an abusive childhood and a genetic predisposition to aggression, and that he should therefore not be held fully responsible. Using your knowledge of the free will/determinism debate, identify the type(s) of determinism referred to and evaluate one implication of this argument for the legal system.
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Discuss the free will and determinism debate in psychology. Refer to at least two types of determinism in your answer. (16 marks)
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