Determinism

• Behaviour is shaped and controlled by internal and/or external forces rather than the individuals will to do something
• Hard determinism (Fatalism)

  Implies that free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal or external factors beyond our control
• Soft determinism

  All human behaviour has causes, but behaviour can also be determined by our conscious choices in the absence of coercion (we also have conscious mental control)
• Biological determinism

  The belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences (ie physical) that we cannot control
• Environmental determinism

  The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment and other agents of socialisation (external factors) that are beyond our control, eg rewards and punishment
• Psychic determinism

  The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts (repressed in childhood) that we cannot control
• Scientific Determinism

  The belief that all events have a cause

  An IV is manipulated to observe the effects that this causes on a DV - if there's is a change, we infer cause and effect due to change in the IV

  To infer causation, everything else (extraneous variables) must be controlled - Lab experiment is epitome of this

  This emphasis on causal explanations allows us to come up with general laws and predict and control future events
• Scientific Determinism

  Causal relationships are probabilistic rather than determinist, i.e. they increase the probability of an outcome rather than cause it

  Causal relationships reduce human behaviour and ignore the idea that human behaviour is not rigid and is influenced by many factors eg cognitions can override biological impulses
• Reciprocal determinism

  The environment and a person's behaviour influences each other

  They both suggest that both nature and nurture are more important influences on behaviour

  This further supports the notion that nature and nurture are complex and inseperably intertwined, and interact with each other in a manner that is multi-layered and dynamic
• Examples - Biological Determinism

  Biopsychology (Sleep wake cycle, endocrine and nerve system, genes, neuroatonomy)

  Explanations for schizophrenia (excess dopamine)
• Examples - Environmental determinism

  Explanations for resistance to social influence

  Classical/operant conditioning and learning theory
• Examples - Psychic determinism

  Bowlby's maternal deprivation

  Oedipus complex and Psychodynamic approach
• Strength - Determinism led to the development of treatments that have benefited millions of people

  For example, the use of drugs to manage OCD and schizophrenia, and counter conditioning techniques use in phobia therapy
• Weakness - Determinist treatments for mental health problems block the consideration of other treatments that might be beneficial, such as CBT

  If we take the view that the disorders such as OCD are caused by an individuals biology, then it follows the treatments should target genes or neurotransmitters

  This view has consequences
• Strength - Traumatic mental disorders like schizophrenia whereby the individual suffers from hallucinations would not be chosen if someone will give them the option

  Therefore, it must be determinist
• Weakness - Concordance rates for OCD (and intelligence) are hight

  Rates for disorders such as schizophrenia are around 40%, however this demonstrates that behaviour is not 100% determined by genes

  Therefore, there is only partial support for genetic determinism as the data implies that the environment has some role to play in This supports environmental determinism, but not fully either
• Weakness - The legal system relies on the concept of moral responsibility: that we control our behaviour

  If we accept that everything is determined, then many would argue that we should not be punished for wrongdoing

  This is what happened in the case of the murderer Stephen Mobley, who had a family history of violence and argued that he was 'born to kill'

  Therefore, determinism has negative implications in moral and legal situations, providing an excuse