determinism

• hard determinism (fatalism)

  - all human behaviour has a cause and it is possible to identify and describe these causes

  - everything we think and do is dictated by internal or external forces that we cannot control

  scientific - aims to uncover the casual laws that govern behaviour
• soft determinism (compatibility)

  - human action does have a cause, but there is some room for people to have conscious mental control over behaviour (EG. SLT, cognitive approach)
• 3 types of hard determinism

  biological determinism

  - associated with the biological approach

  - factors affecting behaviour

  1. genetics: inheriting anger issues
  2. hormones: happiness caused by dopamine
  3. nervous system: fight or flight from adrenaline
• 3 types of hard determinism

  environmental determinism

  - associated with the behaviourist approach

  - factors affecting behaviour

  1. family: discipline growing up
  2. peer pressure: getting dragged into substance abuse
  3. violent media: could cause a rise in aggression
• 3 types of hard determinism

  psychic determinism

  - associated with the psychodynamic approach

  - factors affecting behaviour

  1. unresolved stages of development: smoking addiction
  2. defence mechanisms: aggression from displacement
  3. structures of personality: pleasure and guilt
• evaluation strength

  a strength of determinism is being able to predict and control human behaviour. if the cause of a mental disorder can be identified, then treatments can be developed. for example phobias are caused by conditioning so treatments such as systematic desensitisation or flooding have been created. therefore, determinism has real-life applications through treatments for mental disorders.
• evaluation weakness

  determinism is not consistent with the legal system. offenders are held morally accountable for their actions regardless of any previous experiences or genetics. determinism, however suggests that offenders genes or any past experiences should be taken into account. therefore, the concept of free will is much more consistent with the legal system.