Biological determinism

Biological Determinism

Biological determinism, also known as genetic determinism, is the hypothesis that biological factors such as an organism's individual genes (genetic makeup) or some aspect of its physiology (physiological traits) are the primary determinants of human behavior (behavioral patterns).

Pronunciation

• Bi-o-log-i-cal De-ter-min-ism

Etymology

The term "biological determinism" is derived from the fields of biology and philosophy. "Biological" refers to the study of life and living organisms, while "determinism" is a philosophical concept that every event, including human cognition and behavior, decision and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences.

Related Terms

• Genetics
• Physiology
• Human behavior
• Nature versus nurture
• Sociobiology
• Epigenetics

Overview

Biological determinism suggests that the behaviors and mental processes we exhibit are a result of our genetic makeup and biological factors. This theory is often contrasted with the concept of nature versus nurture, which posits that our environment and experiences also play a significant role in shaping who we are.

Biological determinism has been used to explain a variety of social and cultural phenomena, such as intelligence levels, sexual orientation, and personality traits. However, it is a controversial theory, with many critics arguing that it oversimplifies the complex interplay of genes and environment.

Criticism

Critics of biological determinism argue that it fails to take into account the complexity of human behavior and the impact of environment and learning. They also point out that biological determinism can be used to justify social inequalities and prejudices.

See Also

• Nature versus nurture
• Sociobiology
• Epigenetics

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Biological determinism
• Wikipedia's article - Biological determinism

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