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Free will and determinism

Free will and determinism

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Question 4

Biological determinism, environmental determinism, psychic determinism and soft determinism are four concepts relevant to the free will and determinism debate in psychology.

Look at Table 1 below.

Table 1: Definitions of concepts in the free will and determinism debate

Definition
A The view that behavior is constrained by past conditioning and reinforcement history
B The belief that all human behavior is entirely dictated by unconscious drives and instincts
C The perspective that behavior is shaped by physiological systems, genetic inheritance, and neurochemistry
D The idea that free will is entirely an illusion and all actions are completely predictable
E The position that behavior is constrained by internal or external factors, but individuals retain some conscious choice

Using Table 1, match each of the following concepts to its best definition:

  • Which definition (A-E) best describes biological determinism?
  • Which definition (A-E) best describes environmental determinism?
  • Which definition (A-E) best describes psychic determinism?
  • Which definition (A-E) best describes soft determinism?

List the four concepts and write the appropriate letter (A-E) next to each one. A letter may only be used once.

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Markscheme

Free will and determinism Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Psychology
  3. /Free will and determinism

18 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Free will and determinism. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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