AeroMood: Automating Harmony
A new smart-home integration system, AeroMood, utilizes high-precision facial recognition and biometric sensors to detect early signs of frustration or anger in residents. Upon detection, the system immediately dispenses micro-aerosols of calming synthetic pheromones and adjusts ambient lighting to instantly lower heart rates and restore a relaxed emotional state. Developers claim this technology creates a permanently stress-free household. Opponents, however, argue that subverting a person's natural emotional response prevents individuals from learning conscious emotional regulation and undermines their autonomy in choosing how to respond to stressful situations.
Using Item A, outline what is meant by the free will/determinism debate and explain how it may apply to this system.
276 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Debates, covering Nature/nurture, Freewill/determinism, Reductionism/holism, Individual/situational explanations, Usefulness of research, Ethical considerations, Conducting socially sensitive research, and Psychology as a science. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.