Determinism in psychology. What is it, principles, definition, types, forms

Determinism is the doctrine of the mutual certainty and interconnection of all occurring phenomena and processes. The principle of determinism in psychology means, first of all, the need to study all the natural dependencies of mental phenomena on the causes that give rise to them. The mental characteristics of living beings are determined by their usual way of life. But along with its change, their mental activity begins to change.

The dynamics of the mental capabilities of animals completely depend on the basic evolutionary processes. And the development of the human psyche depends on the general progress of society and the relevance of its laws, as well as methods of production, which, according to K. Marx, influence political, social and spiritual life processes.

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The principle of determinism in psychology

Determinism, used in psychology, determines the dependence of a person’s mental phenomena on a group of factors that can be expressed in heredity, as well as microsocial relationships, and the subject’s previous experience. At the same time, determinism can be expressed in various forms, which is due to the diversity of views on the phenomenon and its long-term evolution.

The principle of determinism in psychology consists of the following provisions:

• mental phenomena are caused by objective reality;
• the main influence on the psyche is formed by the activity of the human brain;
• Each mental phenomenon has its own cause, therefore, when studying mental processes, it is necessary to establish the reasons that caused them;
• The psyche is also determined by lifestyle and social connections.

Equilibrium

The behavior of buyers and sellers and the theory of determinants shape supply and demand. When the quantity of goods offered by producers coincides with the number of goods that buyers are willing to purchase, equilibrium occurs.

On a graph, this is the intersection of the supply and demand curves. The example shows that equilibrium is achieved at a price of 25 monetary units and a quantity of 25 units.

The equilibrium price changes as factors influence supply and demand. It turns out that determinants are levers that change the balanced state of the market in the long term.

Definition of the concept and content of the theory

Determinism in psychology is the dependence of the phenomena of mental processes on certain factors that form them. The concept of “determinism” comes from the Latin determinare - “to limit, delineate, determine,” which speaks of the main idea of ​​​​this doctrine - the interconnection and mutual determination of processes and phenomena.

The theory of determinism originates from a philosophical doctrine that recognizes the pattern of interconnection between phenomena of the objective world.

This approach to scientific knowledge as a result of evolution has become the most important component of scientific methodology, which formed the goal of research to identify patterns and causes of ongoing processes. Determinism is used both to study nature, society and the human psyche.

Impact on psychology

As in any field of knowledge, determinism in psychology conditionally divided this science into two camps. For example, behaviorists based their concepts on absolute determinism - pandeterminism.

The principle of free will and choice formed the basis of existential philosophy and psychology. The current state of psychology is such that the recognition of scientifically based laws of mental life does not prevent psychologists - especially practicing specialists - from abandoning the idea of ​​universal causality.

Mental determinism

It is also worth mentioning here mental determinism, a concept that became central to Freud’s psychoanalysis. The latter believed that there are no random, inconsistent events in mental life. This idea formed the basis of the methodology of classical psychoanalysis, proclaiming the significance of any, even the most strange and insignificant events, for creating a complete picture of mental life.

Evolution of the principle

In relation to psychology in the development of determinism, several eras stand out. The first period of the emergence of determinism was the pre-mechanical stage. Initially, determinism manifested itself as the recognition of natural and cosmic laws as fundamental ones, subordinating both natural natural phenomena and human life.

The representative of this stage was the Greek philosopher Democritus, who believed that man, like all surrounding nature, consists of atoms. From the point of view of Democritus, the soul becomes the source of energy for the body. The ancient Greek philosopher was a representative of universal determinism.

He believed that human moral principles cannot be inherited or given by nature; they are the product of social influences. Aristotle interpreted the reason for the existence and activity of man and nature differently. He came to the inseparability of the soul from the living body as a system that has an integral organization and purposefulness of the human soul.

With the collapse of antiquity, religious worldviews arose. The representative of the spontaneity of the soul and the hidden abilities for movement and activity inherent in it was Augustine, who founded theological psychology.

It is based on the opposite of determinism, indeterminism, which recognizes exclusively personal experience as a criterion of reliability. Such idealistic ideas are still opposed to the materialistic view of what is happening in the world and the human psyche.

Mechanistically, determinism arose with the active development of science in the 17th century. The rationalist philosopher Spinoza rejected the dualistic understanding of man, which divided him into spiritual and physical components. Spinoza described the essence of human psychology with the help of the created doctrine of affects.

Spinoza identifies 3 main affects: desire, pleasure, displeasure. Also representatives of the movement were English and French materialists, some of whom considered man to be a “machine of an organic body” or simply an organized system. The weakness of this direction created the preconditions for turning to biology to explain the certainty of the human psyche.

C. Darwin and C. Bernard significantly influenced biological determinism. They talked about the purposefulness of life as a result of the desire to survive, to preserve forms that allow them to counteract the influence of the environment.

This helped move to probabilistic determination, the representative of which was the psychologist Francis Galton, who believed that human behavior can manifest itself in connection with patterns. The researcher also relied on a general biological approach, which stated that the adaptation of a species can be achieved through individual manifestations that are determined by genetics.

Based on this, Galton concluded that the mental differences of each person are also due to genetic characteristics.

At the next stage of the development of determinism in psychology in the 20th century, mental determinants were identified that regulate the relationship between the natural and the social; at the same time, the psyche began to be considered an independent phenomenon, which, although dependent on the external environment, significantly influences a person’s vital activity and his social life.

The categories of the psyche were image, action and motive, which were considered by Helmholtz, Darwin and Sechenov.

Subsequently, microsocial determinism began to develop, which saw the determination of the human psyche in interpersonal relationships. For example, Freud drew attention to mental deviations due to a traumatic relationship with his mother.

The new determinants of determination were group action and cooperation; the individuality of consciousness is formed by the transfer of external influences from microsocial relationships into one’s inner world.

A prominent representative of this trend was Vygotsky, who identified signs as psychological tools that originate in interaction with other people and are later transferred to a person’s consciousness.

He also included consciousness in the world of culture, giving it importance in the formation of the human personality. At the same time, Vygotsky spoke about the inseparability of individuality and the social environment, which is refracted before the characteristics of individuals and in itself has the character of a clash and conflict of characters.

Marxist philosophy contributed to a new form of determinism, which defined human consciousness as dependent on objective conditions, cultural and economic factors. It also contributed significantly to the development of determinism regarding human psychosocial functioning.

The Marxist principle of dialectical materialism was subsequently used by many psychologists, including L.S. Vygotsky, a Soviet psychologist who agreed that by changing the real world, independent of consciousness, with its objective activity, its subject changes itself.

Determinism evolved from idealistic ideas to biological ones, which denied unconscious internal forces and motives, a special type of organization of human mental activity, as well as materialistic ones.

Recognition of the existence of consciousness and the separation of psychology into a separate science made it possible to discover the unconscious aspects of the human psyche, as well as the important role of the microsocial sphere in human change.

2) The era of mechanistic determinism.

XVII century - centuries of mechanics. Man was understood as a machine

The principle of determinism received its greatest development in the works of R. Descartes: he separated the soul and body. Before Descartes, in resolving the question of what comes first, the soul or the body, there was a monism approach in philosophy. Descartes is the founder of the dualism approach: there are two principles of life: the soul and the body.

Descartes extended the principle of mechanism to the body: the human body acts according to the law of the machine (mechanical laws). The soul is indeterministic (has no cause). The soul and body work according to laws that are independent of each other.

3) Biological determinism

- appeared in the middle of the 19th century.
under the influence of the ideas of Charles Darwin and Bernard.
Life is characterized by purposefulness and every organism strives for survival and self-preservation. The expediency is explained by natural reasons:

1. Selection and preservation of forms that accidentally adapted to the conditions of existence.
2. A special structure of organic bodies, which allows the early activation of mechanisms capable of maintaining biological processes at a stable level.

The types of teachings that preach biodeterminism include Galton's teaching (genetic prerequisites for the development of human abilities).

4) Mental determinism

– its origin is associated with the name of W. Wundt. He put forward a formula about a closed causal series: some phenomena of consciousness cause others (the mental gives rise to the mental).

5) Sociodeterminism

. Subspecies:

1. Macrosocial determinism. Prerequisites in the teachings of J. Locke (a person is born as a blank slate, and humanity writes its letters on it).

This is a direction focused on studying the causes of the psyche in the social life of people.

The role of determinants can be the forms of a person’s social existence, the culture in which a person lives, the type of social community, the characteristics of the people in which the personality is formed, etc. (ex. Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory).

2. Microsocial determinism. – the psyche is determined by the interpersonal level of interaction between people. Determinants: social experience, communication with another person, interaction with others, etc.

(ex. Freud’s works – our personal characteristics are formed in the family)

What is indeterminism?

Indeterminism is a philosophical doctrine that denies either the objectivity of causality or its value in knowledge from the point of view of science. Representatives of the doctrine are opponents of determinism and believe that the human will is an autonomous force that is not subject to any laws or reasons.

The ideas of historical indeterminism began to spread in the second half of the 19th century in a number of philosophical schools (philosophy of life, neo-Kantianism). These concepts try to reveal the qualitative specificity of social cognition and the historical process, giving the leading importance to chance in them.

Scientific confirmation of these ideas in social cognition appears after the creation and development in the 19th-20th centuries of a statistical theory based on probability theory.

As a result of numerous studies in the field of social sciences, chance is recognized as an independent beginning of society, the constructive role of chance is affirmed as a factor of human freedom and the irreversibility of social changes, as well as the most important condition for the emergence of something new in the historical process.

Indeterminism can be theological or naturalistic. The first type denies the sufficient usefulness of nature in participating in human activities and the lives of other creatures; integrity and evolution are explained by the existence of God. Naturalistic indeterminism comes from the recognition of the natural as self-sufficient in the world system.

Also in the history of philosophy, 2 types of indeterminism have developed: objective and idealistic. The first type denies any interpretation of causality, both from the point of view of the person himself and from objective understanding. The idealistic direction considers regularity and causality to be relevant from a subjective point of view. At the same time, the objective attributes of determinism at the global level are denied.

Categories of determinism

Determinism in psychology is a direction that refers to mental processes, as well as to all phenomena in the world, from the point of view of causality. It is a connection between phenomena, where one of them is called a cause, and the other is a consequence.

The first phenomenon, due to certain factors, influences the second, thereby giving rise to the category of consequence. Causality is unidirectional and irreversible, which indicates the preceding nature of the cause, which will necessarily be followed by the effect, but not vice versa.

The next categories of determinism are necessity and chance. These concepts are concretizing in the sphere of interdependence of world phenomena and processes. Necessity fixes the pattern of phenomena, which comes from their very existence; randomness speaks of determining the connection between phenomena relative to external circumstances.

Necessity is something that must necessarily happen under given conditions, but in a form that is determined not only by the very essence of the phenomenon, but also by external circumstances, which can develop differently. The difference in the forms of realization of necessity relative to the initial process acts as an accident.

The next categories of determinism are reality and possibility. Reality can be understood as objective reality, matter. In a specific sense, reality can be limited to the existence of a certain object located in certain conditions.

In relation to this concept, we can introduce the category of “possibility,” which is the result of the dialectical relationship between the present and future states of reality. Possibility is the prerequisites and directions for changing reality that exist in its present.

Opportunity can be abstract and real. The latter refers to the transformation of a possible category into the sphere of reality under the influence of certain conditions. An abstract possibility can be realized theoretically, based on the laws by which reality exists, but, based on existing conditions, cannot be transformed into another category.

For a possibility to become a reality, it is necessary to have some conditions and the operation of the laws of the object itself. This realization in human life depends on the subjective factor, that is, human activity.

Historical forms and concepts of determinism

There are several historical theories and concepts of determinism that succeeded each other in different eras, but still exist even in our time:

• antique (naive and spontaneous-dialectical form);
• Laplacian (mechanical rigid);
• natural science (statistical);
• modern (synergetic).

Now let's look at these forms and theories in more detail.

The very first ideas in the theory of determinism were related to causality. They were recognized in Ancient Greece with developed legal and political activity. Also, the ideas of causality and necessity were described back in the 5th century BC by Leucippus, then Democritus became interested in them.

A later form is Laplacean determinism, which is even now considered the foundation of sciences such as physics and mechanics. The concept was supported by successes in the scientific field. Its essence lies in the fact that certain forces, as well as external factors or causes, act on the material system in the initial state, while they strictly and linearly determine its development, as well as subsequent events. This theory is also widely reflected in philosophy.

With the development of such sciences as statistical physics and thermodynamics, probabilistic determinism also emerged. At first it was considered inseparable from the previous Laplace form. According to him, dynamic laws are considered primary, and statistical laws are considered derivative and secondary.

If we talk about modern determinism, then it is a synthesis of all previous theories and approaches, even ancient ones. For example, the features of causation are difficult to understand without the category of interaction, that is, the interconnection of different processes, objects or phenomena. Matter and movement are capable of being transferred, modified, information is transferred and transformed from one form to another.

Causal connections should be interpreted as a directed interaction; immediately after the causes in the effect, we can talk about the active cause. Causes and conditions cannot be opposed to each other, since the condition itself is partially a cause, and the cause is to some extent a condition.

Types of determinism

Determinism is an approach that can be considered in different areas and taking into account certain factors, depending on which the phenomenon is classified into certain types:

• psychological determinism (the surrounding culture and social norms further determine a person’s mental state);
• historical determinism (the approach is based on the principle of certainty, which takes into account 2 elements: the predictability of events, based on the real prerequisites for their occurrence and random forms of their implementation, which can be determined using probabilistic statistical laws, as well as the role of people, based on meaningfulness and rationality their goals and actions);

• biological determinism (behavior is controlled by human genes and hereditary characteristics);
• technological determinism (the social development of humanity refers to technical progress);
• materialistic determinism (material production plays a decisive role in determining living conditions. Such forms of social consciousness as religion, philosophy, morality, law are also determined by material production, which must be studied to understand life processes);
• theological determinism (recognition of the existence of a theological system that views human actions as actions determined by God);
• reciprocal determinism (people function as a result of dynamic interactions between their behavior, environment and personal characteristics).

Demand

Before purchasing a good, the buyer analyzes the existing prices for this type of product, his income, taste preferences and other factors. In the theory of demand, except price, all determinants are constant components. Therefore, the value of the price of a good determines the amount of its demand. The law of demand states: “The lower the price of a good, the more quantity buyers purchase.”

Graphically, the representation of demand is the dependence of price on the quantity of goods. The curve reflects the demand for the good, and the points on it reflect its value. A negative slope (bending of the curve towards the zero coordinate) determines the inverse relationship between the price of a product and the quantity desired to be purchased. When the cost of a good changes, the position of the demand curve remains stable, that is, only the quantity of purchases changes. This is preceded by price determinants of demand. In the case of an increase/decrease in the quantity demanded at a constant price, the curve shifts to the right/left. This is influenced by non-price determinants.

Deterministic approach

The deterministic approach recognizes the fact that events or phenomena occurring in a person’s life are due to some reasons.

In psychology, the deterministic approach can be expressed in the following forms:

Definitions

What does the principle of determinism in psychology say? A scientific principle is based on a number of concepts that scientists operate with.

Determinism in psychology

There are three key methodological principles of psychology: determinism, systematicity and development.

The principles of consistency and development are clear to understand.

Systematicity means the presence of connections between various manifestations of the psyche, and development and types of processes occurring.

The concept of determinism is not so clear. This is the recognition of a direct relationship between phenomena and the factors that give rise to them.

That is, when studying any mental phenomenon, it is necessary to analyze the conditions of its occurrence. Only in this case can we talk about creating a complete picture of the present. Not all scientists agree with this opinion.

Deterministic approach

This is a scientific approach, according to which all occurring processes are not random, but have a specific reason.

Determinism considers causality as a set of circumstances that determines all processes. At the same time, it is recognized that it is impossible to explain all phenomena by causality alone.

Other forms of determinism that are key:

• systemic , individual elements of the system depend on the characteristics of the whole,
• feedback , the consequences have a direct impact on the cause that caused them,
• statistical , the same reasons can lead to different consequences, subject to a statistical pattern,
• target , the task set determines the result that will be achieved in the process of activity,
• self-determinism , demonstration of the ability to direct oneself and control one’s actions in accordance with existing needs.

Determination of behavior

What does the determination of behavior imply? A person’s behavior is determined not only by his individual character traits and the current situation in which he operates, but also by the specifics of the social environment around him.

The immediate environment (family, friends, acquaintances) influence the formation of a system of values ​​and life attitudes.

It is in the process of socialization of a child in the family and in society that he learns moral and ethical standards and comprehends the principles of behavior. His personal qualities are supplemented by information coming from outside.

In addition to the immediate environment (microenvironment), a person is also influenced by society as a whole (macroenvironment). Political, economic, sociocultural and historical processes form social norms, rules of behavior, typical processes and phenomena.

This leads to the development of certain behavioral stereotypes, habitual views and opinions in a particular society.

To become a full-fledged citizen and achieve social well-being, you must comply with these stereotypes and rules.

Cultural determinism holds that all human behavior is explained solely by sociocultural causes . It is the level of a person’s culture that determines his emotional reactions, behavior, etc.

Thus, internally, “I”, under the influence of life in society, is supplemented and transformed into “I-image” . The inner “I” is understood as the entire set of individual personality traits, temperament, character, values, ideas about oneself and the world.

But often a person in the process of his social life encounters phenomena that conflict with his inner personality.

In this case, “I-image” comes first; this is the social behavior that a person demonstrates in order to effectively interact with others .

That is, he says and does exactly what members of his social group expect of him. Even if it goes against his internal position.

Determinism and freedom of behavior are possible only if a person knows how to adapt to the requirements of the environment and accept all existing rules without internal discomfort.

Determinants of mental development

Studying the problem of an individual’s mental development involves analyzing three main factors:

1. Biological . This is a key factor influencing the course of mental processes in any individual. It is the properties inherent in nature that become the foundation for the further development of the psyche. The influence of the biological factor is manifested in the following aspects: heredity, congenital characteristics, level of maturation of the nervous system. Heredity refers to a set of qualities that are passed on to a child from his parents. Congenital characteristics are characteristics inherent in a particular organism, depending on the course of intrauterine development and the process of childbirth. The development of the nervous system depends on the growth and formation of connections between nerve cells.
2. Social. A set of external conditions that surround an individual in his social environment. Under the influence of these conditions, a process of socialization occurs, which is of great importance.
   It is as a result of socialization that all key skills develop, among which speech development is of paramount importance.

   In parallel with socialization, individualization also develops, separation of oneself from society, awareness of one’s own exclusivity.

3. Personal activity. As a result of the full mental development of an individual, the ability to carry out purposeful activities is formed. This activity is manifested in building communications with other members of society, joining social groups, obtaining education, mastering professional skills, etc. As a person grows up, his mental development constantly reaches new levels. As consciousness becomes more complex, activity becomes enriched. Positive activity allows you to socialize in society: take a certain position, build personal relationships, create a circle of friends, etc.

Determinist, who is it?

Determinists are adherents of the corresponding doctrine.

Proponents of this scientific approach talk about the lack of freedom of choice in humans.

All our actions are determined by motives that underlie the causality of phenomena .

These motives can be determined by external circumstances or internal characteristics of a particular individual.

Any action of a person depends not on his specific choice, but on what motive predominantly influences him at the current moment in time.

As a rule, determinists in practical life are not guided by their theory in its pure form. In modern social conditions, it is not possible to function fully, showing complete apathy and lack of initiative.

But people successfully apply the principles of the approach when the need arises to justify their own behavior. In this case, negative actions are explained by the influence of the environment, biological characteristics of the psyche, negative influence of the environment, etc.

Practical application of the principle of determinism

Determinism in psychology is an approach to understanding mental processes that is fundamental in understanding the principles of the psyche, which involves a comprehensive study of all facets of human life to understand his behavior.

The most important stage in the practical application of determinism in psychology was the development of the cultural-historical theory of L.S. Vygotsky, Soviet psychologist and founder of the Marxist research tradition of studying the highest psychological functions of humans. This theory was developed in the 20-30s. XX century and considered the social environment as the main source of personal development.

Even at the beginning of development, the child is formed under the influence of both natural maturation processes and cultural ones, which also shape thinking and behavior.

The psychologist believed that the development of thinking and other mental functions can occur in conjunction with external activity with the help of cultural means and social factors. Thanks to this theory, it became known that the source of a child’s development lies in cooperation and creating a dialogue with an adult.

Determination of behavior

The determination of human behavior in psychology comes down not only to personal qualities, but also to the characteristics of the external environment. This is manifested in the inevitable activity of a person in the social sphere, which refracts personal intentions and forms certain roles in the behavior of the individual.

Also, external determination can manifest itself in the form of social coercion, violence, and manipulation. It is society as a whole, its social institutions that influence a person’s activities and life, from the formation of his feelings to family and industrial relations. Society is the framework that influences all manifestations of man.

Internal mental determination influences the public sphere through goal setting. In his cooperation with society, a person consciously sets goals for his life and activities, but they, as well as the method of their implementation, are closely related to the intrapsychic determination of a person. It has an indirect but serious influence on social determination and social behavior.

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Determinants of psychological development

Determinism in psychology is an approach that determines the factors that determine human behavior and his internal mental processes. Mental development depends on many reasons, which can be classified into objective and subjective.

Objective determinants of psychological development

These factors determining mental development include macrosocial elements:

• the level of development of society in terms of economics and culture;
• features of raising a child;
• the level of care for a person and the degree to which his need for intimacy is satisfied;
• ethnocultural characteristics.

Objective factors of development also include microsocial and somatopsychic determinants. The first includes the processes of education in the family and other small social groups (kindergarten, school).

Somatopsychic factors include:

• genetic characteristics;
• illness;
• temperament.

Objective determinants differ in that the child is not their active subject and participant in the sense that certain processes do not depend on the characteristics of a particular person, but satisfy the interests of some groups of people (as in economic factors) or are simply an extraneous circumstance (genetic characteristics , illnesses).

Subjective determinants of psychological development

Despite the fact that subjective factors depend on objective ones, they are an important part of the internal logic of human development, especially self-development. These determinants include features of the development of the need-motivational sphere, the formation of a person’s consciousness and self-awareness, and his behavioral style.

Determinism in psychology is the dependence of mental processes on certain determinants, which can be objective and subjective. This approach is used for comprehensive scientific work and has become one of the fundamental psychological principles, highlighting the need for a comprehensive study of psychological phenomena.

Author: Anna Fleyman

Multideterminism

However, the idea of ​​a single cause was later revised, which marked the beginning of the development of multiple determinism or multideterminism. The key idea of ​​this concept is based on the fact that any mental phenomenon or form of behavior is determined by many factors, and moreover, serves more than one purpose.

Freud himself revised his ideas about the causality of mental life. Based on his rich psychoanalytic experience, he introduces the concept of overdetermination, which contains an indication of the interconnectedness of the causes that lead to a complex of symptoms, expressed in dreams (or rather, its elements), behavioral reactions, and any other component of mental reality. At the same time, it cannot be said that this idea was new for science as a whole.

Multideterminism is found in the geometry of flat bodies, namely in the intersection of two lines that form a point at the meeting point. Each of the lines is a cause, and the point is a phenomenon caused by these causes. And an infinite number of lines pass through one point. Thus, the intersection of two lines is a determinant of a point, the intersection of three or more lines is an overdeterminant.

In relation to psychoanalysis, the term multiple determination has taken root, since one phenomenon (point) often presupposes the presence of a minimum range of causes (two lines), but not always more necessary.

Based on this principle, all mental life and phenomena are determined by many reasons. Psychoanalysis here helps to determine how a certain thought or dream images appeared in the psyche. For example, they can either be a consequence of conscious experience or appear at the intersection of many unconscious structures, including repressed desires, various ego defense mechanisms, false experiences defined by transference, etc.

Multiple conditioning is possible because each phenomenon can carry different meanings, so the symptom can be a desire for attention and secondary gain (hysteria), an attempt to satisfy needs, or a craving for submission and punishment (masochism). Each of the meanings has its own path from the unconscious to consciousness and is valuable in itself, however, the multiplicity of meanings and ways to achieve the final goal create a single and unique picture of the movement-symptom.