When something is deterministic, it belongs to the idea that what you do and what happens to you are caused by things you cannot control. In that picture, causes that came before have already fixed what will happen. Your choices feel free, but they were going to happen anyway. People who hold this view are determinists; the belief itself is determinism. It is a classroom and philosophy word, not a kitchen-table word. Scientists also call a system deterministic when it always does the same thing if you start it the same way — no luck, no surprise. Though actually, that science use is a close cousin, not a different word: both mean this cannot go another way. Do not hear determined in it. Determined is a person who will not give up.