free will and determinism evaluations
- Created by: Aimee W x
- Created on: 14-03-22 16:45
View mindmap
- free will and determinism evaluations
- One advantage of determinism and the scientific emphasis on causal explanations is that it has led to a number of practical applications: For example, the theory that schizophrenia was caused by an over transmission of dopamine led to the development of antipsychotic medication to block dopamine (D2) receptors and these have been effective in reducing symptoms. This suggests an emphasis on cause and effect has enabled researchers to predict and control events to benefit real people’s lives.
- However, a problem with both biological and
environmental determinism is that neither internal nor external forces on their
own a likely to explain all behaviour:
For example, twin studies have found monozygotic (MZ) twins who have an
identical genetic make-up have concordance rates of around 40% for
schizophrenia compared to only 7% for dizygotic (DZ) twins who share 50% of the
same genes. The fact that concordance rates are not 100% in the MZ twins suggests
genes alone do not entirely determine these behaviours.
- However, these studies do show genes seem to play a significant part in these behaviours and therefore, the environment cannot be the sole determining factor in these behaviours either.
- Furthermore, one problem with determinist explanations of behaviour is that they are often incompatible with the legal system: For example, research into the role of the MAOA gene in aggression argues that we may be somehow pre-programmed to be aggressive and therefore have no free will over our aggressive behaviour. One implication of this argument is that it may be seen as wrong for the legal system to then find people responsible for their aggressive behaviour, if it was not something under their conscious control.
- There are strengths of the notion of free will:
Firstly, although not
based on scientific evidence, everyday experience does ‘give the impression’
that we are exercising free will through the choices we make which does give face
validity to the concept of free will and it is, therefore, plausible.
-
Also,
research suggests that people who feel in control of their own behaviour
(high internal locus of control) are more likely to be able to resist pressures
to conform.
- This suggests that, even if we do not have free will, thinking we have free will can have a positive impact on our behaviour.
-
Also,
research suggests that people who feel in control of their own behaviour
(high internal locus of control) are more likely to be able to resist pressures
to conform.
Comments
No comments have yet been made