key terms

• Free will

  Individuals are self-determining and capable that are not predetermined by internal or external forces. People have conscious control over their behaviour and can act with intention and responsibility. Individuals retain autonomy and are not bound to a single course of action.

  Humanist
• Biological determinism

  Behaviour is entirely or predominantly influenced or controlled by biological factors such as genetic inheritance, neuroanatomy, hormonal activity and neurochemistry. Psychological traits and tendencies are encoded in our DNA and shared our biology

  Biological approach
• Environmental determinism

  Behaviour is a result of environmental influences, including upbringing, social context, reinforcement, histories and learned association. Our actions are shaped by our experiences and surroundings particularly during formative years

  Social learning theory

  Behaviourist approach
• Psychic determinism

  Behaviour is determined by unconscious internal conflicts desires and childhood experiences particularly those rooted in the early stages of psychosexual development. Even seemingly meaningless behaviours have deep unconscious motivations.

  Psychodynamic approach
• Soft determinism

  While behaviour may be influence or constrained by external or internal forces, individuals still possess the capacity for rational choice and conscious decision making. Allows for causality without eliminating he concept of free will entirely. Individuals have some conscious control over their actions and can make choices within the framework of those causes

  Social learning theory, Cognitive approach
• Hard determinism

  All human behaviour is caused by factors beyond the individuals control. Free will is an illusion every action or decision is the inevitable result of preceding events and conditions governed by cause and effect laws, compatible with the scientific method.

  Biological approach

  Humanistic approach

  Psychodynamic approach