The idea that an individual's behavior is due to reasons beyond their willing control is known as determinism. Determinism is a philosophical thesis that is more commonly known as cause and effect. There are many different types of determinism including biological determinism, and environmental determinism.
This version of determinism states that a person acts in the way that they do because of their genetic makeup, and that everything they do is out of their control. This can affect many parts of a human's life, including their sexuality, their taste in clothes and music, even their career path. People are made in a certain way, and even social changes, cultural changes and education will not have a bearing on the development of the individual.
- Environmental determinism
Environmental determinism states that the social conditions do not determine a culture, but that the physical environment does. The main element of this is the geography of certain regions will determine a person's behavior, and that the climate plays a huge part in this development of behavior. Tropical climates are said to make people lazy, whilst those living in cooler climes are more focused and determined and have a stronger work ethic.
This is the belief that all actions that take place do so as a result of a God. These Gods vary depending on differing religions, and these religions include Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Hard theological determinism states that individuals have no power in the actions that they take, but that all acts are pre-determined by a God. Soft theological determinism is the belief that God is so powerful that the actions we take, are done so as a result of a fear of what may happen.
Other versions of determinism include cultural, psychological and behavioral.
