Free Will vs Determinism Debate
Do you really choose what to have for breakfast, or is that decision already determined by your brain chemistry and past experiences? This fundamental question splits psychology into two camps.
Free will suggests we genuinely control our choices and behaviour - a view championed by humanistic psychologists. However, most psychology research supports determinism - the idea that our behaviour is controlled by factors beyond our conscious control.
Hard determinism claims we have zero control over our actions, whilst soft determinism allows some room for choice in certain situations. Different approaches blame different factors: biological determinism points to genes and hormones, environmental determinism blames upbringing and society, and psychic determinism focuses on unconscious desires.
The deterministic approach has led to brilliant scientific treatments for mental health conditions. However, it clashes with our legal system - we can't lock people up if they're not responsible for their actions! Recent brain research suggests our unconscious mind makes decisions before we're even aware of them, but most people still feel they're making genuine choices daily.
Key Point: Bandura's 'reciprocal determinism' offers a middle ground - suggesting our behaviour, personal factors, and environment all influence each other in a continuous cycle.