The Behaviorists’ Challenge Our Concept of Free Will

Free Will and Determinism Track

Stephen Lambert, PhD, Psychology

This presentation examines free will and determinism from the perspective of psychology. It includes an overview of major theorists—such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner—who believe that we operate primarily on conditioned responses related to rewards and punishments, and is followed by a discussion of determinism and modified free will.