Who viewed human behavior as primarily the manifestation of biological and instinctive drives, unconscious motivation and irrational forces?

Who viewed human behavior as primarily the manifestation of biological and instinctive drives, unconscious motivation and irrational forces?

• A. Freud
• B. Jung
• C. Erikson
• D. Skinner

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is the psychodynamic view that much of human behavior stems from internal, often unconscious, biological drives and irrational motivations. Sigmund Freud is the figure most closely associated with this perspective, proposing that actions are shaped by instinctual forces from the id, conflicts and desires hidden in the unconscious, and the way these are managed by the ego and the superego. He emphasized that unresolved childhood experiences and unconscious wishes can influence everyday behavior, dreams, and symptoms. This focus on unconscious motivation and biological impulses as primary drivers is what makes Freud the best fit for the description. In contrast, other theorists emphasize different angles—Jung with a broader unconscious and archetypes, Erikson with psychosocial development across the lifespan, and Skinner with observable behavior and conditioning—without centering on unconscious biological drives.

The idea being tested is the psychodynamic view that much of human behavior stems from internal, often unconscious, biological drives and irrational motivations. Sigmund Freud is the figure most closely associated with this perspective, proposing that actions are shaped by instinctual forces from the id, conflicts and desires hidden in the unconscious, and the way these are managed by the ego and the superego. He emphasized that unresolved childhood experiences and unconscious wishes can influence everyday behavior, dreams, and symptoms. This focus on unconscious motivation and biological impulses as primary drivers is what makes Freud the best fit for the description. In contrast, other theorists emphasize different angles—Jung with a broader unconscious and archetypes, Erikson with psychosocial development across the lifespan, and Skinner with observable behavior and conditioning—without centering on unconscious biological drives.