mechanical causality

a construct that explains the causes of things and events, including behaviors, in terms of the causal relations among the parts of a machine. Such an explanation will nearly always be one of linear causation. Mechanical causality is a type of hard determinism. See mechanistic theory.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

stress reaction

a pronounced or excessive by-product of conditions of pressure or strain. Examples are extreme feelings of tension or panic, disorganized speech patterns, and accidents caused by the effects of alcohol, drugs, or emotional stress.