determinism

• psychology as 'the scientific study of the brain and behaviour' also provides causal explanations, these are deterministic arguments that our behaviours are set by forces outside of our control
• hard determinism- the idea that our traits and behaviour, are set by forces outside of our control (internal or external) with no role for free will
• Free will- individuals conciously decide their behaviour without deterministic constraints
• soft determinism- traits and behaviours, to an extent are dictated by both internal and external forces, however we do have a level of control over our behaviour through concious thought processes.
• environmental determinism- the argument that our experiences in the world shape our behaviour, we have learned to behave in specific ways based on factors like reinforcement and growing up in a certain culture. behaviourists are usually considered hard environmental determinists
• behaviourists are often considered to be hard environmental determinists as they ignore internal factors such as cognitive processes that are said to allow the individuals own conscious control of their behaviour, instead they argue that behaviour is as a result of stimulus-response links
• Social learning theorists are also environmental determinists as they accept many of the principles of behaviourism, also learning vicariously is learning through experience (from environment). However... the fact that social learning theorists include the factor of cognitive processes that mediate between stimulus and bringing about a response makes them soft determinists
• cognitive psych- soft determinism- accepts the influence of the biological approach on human behaviour, however they also believe in a significant role for cognitive processes, involving choice and decision-making. EG CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) shows how changing thought patterns can alter emotional responses and behaviours, indicating a capacity for self-directed change.
• biological determinism- the argument that our behaviour is set by genetics (including the role of evolution) and biological processes, such as hormone levels in our body, neurotransmitter levels in the brain and the functioning of brain structures. EG biological psychologists use drug treatments that directly influence the functioning of biological processes in their treatment of mental health disorders.
• psychic determinism- the idea that all traits and behaviour is as a result of psychodynamic processes, eg freud and the unconscious mind, he believed that innate drives... shaped by childhood experiences, form unconscious processes that determine behaviour
• the only approach that supports/uses free will- is humanistic psychology, they reject determinism; instead, humanistic psychology argues humans have agency; they are capable of making choices freely and are responsible for them.
• free will has face validity- people feel like they have conscious control over a feeling of agency, however determinists would argue that this is only an illusion
• By assuming the scientific principle of cause and effect applies to human behaviour, psychologists have successfully predicted and influenced behaviour. this approach can be seen as valuable, as seen in biological determinism, where the symptoms of mental illness are linked to neurotransmitter imbalances- has led to development of drug therapies such as SSRIs for OCD,
• advantage of determinism- bio determinism which argues that all traits/behaviour are due to our genetic makeup/hormones, has led to successful drug therapies that are tried and tested on many individuals and have been very successful, these treatments have significantly helped millions of individuals by reducing symptoms, enabling them to lead more normal lives, return to work, and contribute to the economy.
• psychic determinism- the idea that behaviour is determined by unconscious psychological processes and past experiences, especially from childhood, eg a phobia develops from repressed childhood trauma
• criticism of psychic determinism- difficult to test or falsify, it is often subjective