psychic determinism

noun

1. the theory that all aspects of a person's psychological makeup arise from specific causes or forces, as previous experiences or instinctual drives, which may be conscious or unconscious.

psychic determinism

noun

1. psychol the assumption, made esp by Freud, that mental processes do not occur by chance but that a cause can always be found for them

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychic determinism¹

First recorded in 1875–80