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Conscious Choice and Determinism in Behavior

Explore Libet's study on voluntary action and its implications on the role of conscious choice in behavior. Can free will coexist with physical laws? Find out more on Psychlotron.org.uk.

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Conscious Choice and Determinism in Behavior

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  1. You will be shown a timer, counting down from 60s to 0s. • At a time of your choosing, tap on the desk with your pen. • Record the time at which you decided to tap on the desk psychlotron.org.uk

  2. 350ms Onset of readiness potential PP reports intention to act Action carried out Libet’s (1985) study of voluntary action electrical brain activity psychlotron.org.uk

  3. What does Libet’s finding imply about the role of conscious choice in behaviour? psychlotron.org.uk

  4. The determinist stance • Conscious ‘choice’ does not determine behaviour • Epiphenomenalism • Mental states are a by-product of brain states that have no causal properties • NB: see the ‘mind-body problem’ psychlotron.org.uk

  5. The determinist stance • Libet’s compromise: • The brain generates many possible ways of behaving • Free will is the ‘chooser’ psychlotron.org.uk

  6. The homunculus problem This is called an infinite regress. It is bad. Libet’s position requires a ‘chooser’ to decide how we act psychlotron.org.uk

  7. Can free will exist in a universe governed by physical laws? • Is it possible to preserve ‘freedom of choice’ without falling into dualism? • Can we do psychology without being determinists? psychlotron.org.uk

  8. Reading Gross (1996) pp.874-876 Pennington (2003) pp. 229-231 psychlotron.org.uk

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