Determinism, Conduct and Fear Psychology

I have just read Prof. Jennings' article on “Experimental Determinism and Human Conduct.”1 I see determinism in a different light, and will appreciate it if you will allow me to portray a part of my concept.

I approach the problem of determinism from the viewpoint of genetic psychology and in the setting of an evolutionary psychology, as these concepts are being developed upon the disclosures of psychoanalysts and of students of the autonomic system. Of course psychoanalysts represent varying degrees of understanding and have varying points of emphasis. Furthermore, psychoanalytic theory is still in the making and therefore my indiscretions must not be charged to that group as a whole.

It appears from the essay of Prof. Jennings that in their choice of psychologic theory, he and others are influenced by fear. On the one hand I see a desire to conform their psychologic theories and their lives according to an understanding of determinism acquired through experimental psychology. On the other hand, I see a conflicting urge to conform psychologic theory and life to moralistic standards of value, doubtless acquired during youth. The psychoanalyst believes that he understands some of the psycho-genie determinants of these conflicting impulses. Whenever that understanding is offered in explanation of some one's choice of theories or conduct, otherwise than in the privacy and regular order of psychoanalytic work, then some one's autonomic system is sure to be disturbed. The opinion that moral theories are important to society, is by many of us believed to arise from a mere necessity for maintaining a semblance of comfort in spite of considerable affective repression. When anyone questions the correctness or utility of such moral theory, he threatens to rob the repressed individuals of their phantasmal comfort. It seems as though one is taking something away and giving nothing in return. So resentment comes into being. This means the existence of emotional resistances