Homework Help: psy

Posted by lisa on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 2:42am.

As individuals, people have the ability to make their own choices and decide for themselves. Many things can influence their ability to choose freely. Choice, change, and control are three factors that influence the degree to which people choose. How does a person’s level of autonomy affect their sense of freedom? How would a person, who aligns themselves with the incremental theory, view his or her sense of freedom differently from a person who aligns him or herself with the entity theory? How would a person with an internal locus of control view personal freedom as opposed to a person with an external locus of control?

psy - bobpursley, Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 10:34am
Your first sentence is highly improbably, and frankly, not backed by empirical evidence. From there, you develop a free-will thesis, and then ask questions about "view" (biologically, that has no meaning).
Your questions presuppose free-will. Religious and political conservatives like that argument, as it then presupposes a natural order (gender preference, mother-child bonding, et al) to base a system of laws and norms.
But how does that explain pedophiles? or homosexuality? or irrational behaviour (as in antisocial)?
Philosophers have for ages argued "free-will" and the basis of rational thought, whatever that is. Books have been written on it.
So here, you presuppose free-will, and variants depending on a persons "alignment" with "control" theory. That presupposes not only free-will, but something controlling free-will. Hmmm.

You have an interesting topic, but beware of the potholes. Often we generate concepts which make us feel good, and powerful, however have no basis in empirical evidence. I would like to read your thoughts on this.

Here is a short essay on free-will that may stimulate your thinking of how the free will is actually "controlled".

http://www.lifenotes.org/If%20you%20are%20who%20you%20are%20then%20who%20are%20you.htm

Good luck, it sounds interesting.
psy - PsyDAG, Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 12:09pm
These articles might help:

http://www.members.cox.net/dagershaw/lol/ControlLocus.html
http://www.members.cox.net/dagershaw/lol/ControlYourLife.html

We are all influenced by hereditary and environmental factors. Is it actual control that people have over their lives — or is it merely their perception of control?

I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

Positive Psychology - As individuals, people have the ability to make their own ...
Science - Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that all organisms ...
Theology - How can free will be compatible with predestination, when they hold ...
psy 325 - 16) A researcher theorized that people can hear better when they have ...
statistics - A person scores 81 on a test of verbal ability and 6.4 on a test of...
statistics - A person scores 81 on a test of verbal ability and 6.4 on a test of...
statistics - 10.15 A psychologist theorized that people can hear better when the...
science - one characteristic used to place organisms into kingdoms is: a) how ...
t test - A researcher theorized that people can hear better when they have just ...
psy - revise please - match -Psychodynamic Theory -Trait Theory -Learning Theory...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: