Psychoanalytic theory primarily emphasizes which of the following as determinants of behavior?

Psychoanalytic theory primarily emphasizes which of the following as determinants of behavior?

• A. Observable rewards and punishments
• B. Unconscious conflicts and early experiences
• C. Cognitive schemas
• D. Social learning

Answer: (B)

Psychoanalytic theory attributes behavior to internal forces that operate outside conscious awareness, rooted in early childhood experiences. Unresolved conflicts, often tied to relationships and developmental stages, shape motives, defenses, and patterns of behavior over the long term. This emphasis on hidden drives and the lasting impact of early experiences is what distinguishes psychoanalytic explanations from other theories that focus on observable outcomes, cognitive structures, or learning from others. Observable rewards and punishments reflect conditioning processes, cognitive schemas belong to cognitive theory, and social learning involves modeling—areas that do not center on unconscious conflict or early-life determinants in the way psychoanalytic theory does.

Psychoanalytic theory attributes behavior to internal forces that operate outside conscious awareness, rooted in early childhood experiences. Unresolved conflicts, often tied to relationships and developmental stages, shape motives, defenses, and patterns of behavior over the long term. This emphasis on hidden drives and the lasting impact of early experiences is what distinguishes psychoanalytic explanations from other theories that focus on observable outcomes, cognitive structures, or learning from others. Observable rewards and punishments reflect conditioning processes, cognitive schemas belong to cognitive theory, and social learning involves modeling—areas that do not center on unconscious conflict or early-life determinants in the way psychoanalytic theory does.