Question

Which of the following approaches to personality is least deterministic? A. the humanistic approach B. the psychoanalytic approach C. Skinner's approach D. the behavioral approach

Short answer

A. The humanistic approach B. The psychoanalytic approach C. Skinner's approach D. The behavioral approach Answer: A. The humanistic approach

Step-by-step solution

Define each approach

In this step, provide an overview of each approach to personality as follows: A. The humanistic approach: This approach emphasizes the role of conscious experiences, the self, and free will in shaping personality. Key figures associated with this approach include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. B. The psychoanalytic approach: Developed by Sigmund Freud, this approach focuses on unconscious thoughts and desires as well as childhood experiences in shaping personality. It is deterministic in nature, as it believes that people's behaviors are determined by unconscious processes such as unresolved conflicts from early life. C. Skinner's approach: Also known as the operant conditioning approach, B.F. Skinner's approach emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior. People's behaviors are learned and determined by the consequences of their actions. D. The behavioral approach: This approach focuses on the influence of learning, such as classical and operant conditioning, on personality development. It assumes that behavior is determined by learned associations between stimuli and responses.

Compare determinism in each approach

In this step, compare the level of determinism present in each approach to personality as follows: A. The humanistic approach is the least deterministic of all the options, as it emphasizes the role of free will, conscious experiences, and self-determination in shaping personality. Individuals have the ability to make choices and change their behaviors. B. The psychoanalytic approach is more deterministic than the humanistic approach, as it focuses on unconscious processes and unresolved conflicts from early life as the main determinants of personality. C. Skinner's approach is deterministic, as it assumes that people's behaviors are determined by the consequences of their actions and the environment in which they are placed. There is little room for free will and personal choice in this approach. D. The behavioral approach, similar to Skinner's approach, is deterministic, as it believes that behavior is determined by learned associations between stimuli and responses in the environment.

Identify the least deterministic approach

Based on the analysis in Step 2, it can be concluded that the least deterministic approach to personality among the given options is: A. The humanistic approach The humanistic approach believes in the importance of individual choice, self-determination, and the role of conscious experiences in shaping personality. Therefore, the correct answer is A.