Psychoanalytic theory vs behaviourism: motivation
Freud's psychoanalytic theory with its model of the mind and its central concepts provides a better interpretation of one's behavior and accounts for behavior on a wider scope of issues than does the radical behaviorist theory of B. F. Skinner. Skinner successfully explains human behavior in terms of operant conditioning and reinforcing agents. He changes the focus from Freud's internalized (mental) processes to the importance of the external environment. Skinner emphasizes the importance of the directly observable behavior. However, he fails to completely account for behavior, excluding the original motivational drive. In contrast, Freud succeeds in construing the origins of behavior and motivation, which makes the psychoanalytic theory of Freud more adequate as a theory of personality. Throughout history humans have been puzzled by human behavior, the reasons behind it, and have been faced with the consequences of their own as well as others' behavior. Many studies have been done and theories developed in an attempt to explain this fascinating area of human existence.Among many theories and theorists, Freud's psychoanalytic and Skinner's radical behaviorist theories have bee
The anxiety felt by the person upon realizing they cannot be with their caretakers is not a driving force behind their act of calling. It is the behavior (calling one's parents) which must be identified and used in prediction, control and interpretation (Skinner, 1974). In this case anxiety arose originally upon the event of first separation and is occurring now because a person is faced with a similar situation. It becomes apparent from this account that the need to be with the caretakers acts as the id impulse. The ego senses danger of separation and gives signal to anxiety. This id impulse in not dangerous in itself but due to previous separation in childhood it becomes dangerous now, as it recalls a real external danger (Freud, 1936). If there truly were no original motivational force, this exercise would be successfully accomplished. The reason it is important to study and interpret the behavior in light of operant conditioning is because it is the behavior which has been selected as a crucial element with survival value (Skinner, 1974). The person had never before experienced the feeling attached to the consequence of the act of calling and radical behaviorism fails to provide an explanation and introduce the original motivational drive. The id and the ego are merged and the only time they can be distinguished from each other is in times of conflict between them (Freud, 1936). It is important to note that the person had experienced separation from both parents in their childhood during which they have been unable to contact them. The domain of the mind known as the 'id' is the true unconscious (Freud, 1984). True, they are unobserved and inferred from the observed, but the fact these motivational forces cannot be directly subjected to the scientific scrutiny does not guarantee the processes do not exist and are not valid. As this happens people invent causes that relate to their feelings (Skinner, 1974).
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