8.2.1 Types of Determinism

Determinism

The idea that we never have control over our behaviour

Types of determinism

Biological: The idea that all behaviour is caused by biological factors inside the body

• e.g. The biological approach assumes biological determinism Environmental: The idea that all behaviour is caused by our environment

• e.g. The behaviourist approach assumes environmental determinism Psychic: The idea that all behaviour is caused by unconscious motives

• e.g. The psychodynamic approach assumes psychic determinism

Further types of determinism

Hard determinism

Everything we think and do is dictated by internal and external forces that we cannot control

Soft determinism

Acknowledges that all human actions have a cause but suggests there is some room for manoeuvre in that people have conscious mental control over the way they behave. We choose our behaviour but these decisions are based on personality traits and intentions

Biological determinism

The belief that behaviour is caused by biology (genetics, hormones, evolution) - influences that we can't control

Environmental determinism

The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that we can't control

Psychic determinism

The belief is that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we can't control

Evaluation :

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