AQA Psychology A-level
Topic 8: Issues and Debates in
Psychology
Essay Plans
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu
, Question : Discuss free will and determinism. Refer to at least two topics you have
studied in your answer (16 marks).
AO1 ● Describe what free will is.
● Give an example of a topic where free will is
expressed– the Humanistic Approach.
● Describe what determinism is, the difference between
soft and hard determinism and the various types of
hard determinism- biological, environmental and
psychic.
● Give an example of a topic showing determinism e.g.
Biopsychology shows a lot of biological determinism.
AO3 1. One strength of determinism is that it is
consistent with the aims of science. Searching for
causal explanations has allowed therapies,
treatments and behavioural interventions to be
introduced. An example is the use of Clozapine
as a drug treatment for schizophrenic patients.
2. However a limitation of determinism is that no
matter how scientific it seems , it is unfalsiable.
This is as it is based on the idea that causes of
human behaviour will always exist which is
impossible to prove wrong. Being unfalsifiable
disagrees with the features of a science proposed
by Popper (1934), suggesting determinism is not
as scientific as it appears.
3. A strength of free will is that it has face validity.
In our everyday lives we feel like we exercise free
will for many different choices we make e.g.
choosing what to eat when we go to a restaurant.
4. Overall the interactionist approach provides the
best compromise between the free will vs
determinism debate. An example is the Cognitive
approach which takes this stance - it is believed
that we act upon what we know from our innate
schemas but that we have the choice to choose
what we react to
Topic 8: Issues and Debates in
Psychology
Essay Plans
https://bit.ly/pmt-edu
, Question : Discuss free will and determinism. Refer to at least two topics you have
studied in your answer (16 marks).
AO1 ● Describe what free will is.
● Give an example of a topic where free will is
expressed– the Humanistic Approach.
● Describe what determinism is, the difference between
soft and hard determinism and the various types of
hard determinism- biological, environmental and
psychic.
● Give an example of a topic showing determinism e.g.
Biopsychology shows a lot of biological determinism.
AO3 1. One strength of determinism is that it is
consistent with the aims of science. Searching for
causal explanations has allowed therapies,
treatments and behavioural interventions to be
introduced. An example is the use of Clozapine
as a drug treatment for schizophrenic patients.
2. However a limitation of determinism is that no
matter how scientific it seems , it is unfalsiable.
This is as it is based on the idea that causes of
human behaviour will always exist which is
impossible to prove wrong. Being unfalsifiable
disagrees with the features of a science proposed
by Popper (1934), suggesting determinism is not
as scientific as it appears.
3. A strength of free will is that it has face validity.
In our everyday lives we feel like we exercise free
will for many different choices we make e.g.
choosing what to eat when we go to a restaurant.
4. Overall the interactionist approach provides the
best compromise between the free will vs
determinism debate. An example is the Cognitive
approach which takes this stance - it is believed
that we act upon what we know from our innate
schemas but that we have the choice to choose
what we react to
