People are free to make moral decisions - discuss

When considering the possibility of determinism, it is possible to take a psychological perspective, and explore how behaviourism can infringe on our free will. This theory of social conditioning states that our behaviour can be predicted as it is based on our upbringing, environment and prior experiences. Psychologist J B Watson (1878-1958) is one of the pioneers of this theory, and went as far as to reject the notion that human instinct and temperament plays a role in our actions. Watson takes the Lokean approach that humans are born as ‘tabula rasa’ (blank slates). Within his book“Are You Giving Your Child a Chance?” he argues that “at three years of age the child’s whole emotional life plan has been laid down, his emotional disposition set.” We can apply this theory to the case study of Mary Bell: an eleven-year-old girl who was found guilty of torturing and killing a three year old and four year old boy, and thus went to prison for twelve years with diminished responsibility. However, Bell’s childhood was traumatic: she was subject to physical, psychological and sexual abuse. In one instance, her own mother attempted to murder her by throwing her out of a window. Watson might suggest that Bell had no freedom in committing this action, as her distressing upbringing led her to develop her “psychopathic tendencies.” As she had no control over her environment as a child, she did not technically have any control over the consequences her upbringing had on her mental state, and therefore was not free to make ethical decisions.