determinism

• determinism proposes that free will has no place in explaining behaviour, as behaviour is governed by internal and external forces - this belief forms the basis of science
• hard determinism, or fatalism, suggests that forces outside our control (e.g., biology, past experiences) shape our behaviour - entirely incompatible with free will
• soft determinism (favoured by many psychologists) suggests that behaviour is constrained by biology/environment - but only to a certain extent - there is an element of free will in all behaviour, but some behaviour is more constrained than others
• Heather (1976) proposed that whilst our behaviour is predictable, it doesn't make it inevitable - there are only so many behaviours to choose from
• ao3 - the humanistic approach (1)


  humanistic psychologists argue against determinism as they believe humans have free will and behaviour is not a result of every cause
• ao3 - the humanistic approach (2)


  this is supported by twin studies - 40% concordance rate of depression in monozygotic twins

  other 60% suggested to be due to environmental factors - no behaviour purely biologically determined but as not 100% they are also not purely environmentally determined
• ao3 - psychodynamic approach (1)


  Freud initially appears to support determinism - as he believed behaviour to be determined by childhood experiences and unconscious controls
• ao3 - psychodynamic approach (2)


  however, psychoanalysis is a method of treating mental disorders, to help patients overcome their childhood experiences - it suggests that determinism is not inevitable
• ao3 - implications for the cjs (1)


  determinism is not a view favoured by psychologists, theorists and legal experts as if behaviour is truly controlled by outside forces, it would be extremely unethical to punish criminals for their actions as it was not of their own free will
• ao3 - implications for the cjs (1)


  the determinist position is entirely undesirable as it provides an excuse for criminal acts, allowing criminals to mitigate their own liability and lead to complications in the legal system with changes regarding the responsibility and intent required to prosecute an individual for committing an offence