Which of the following theoretical perspectives of development describes development as primarily unconscious and heavily colored by emotion? Select one A. cognitive B. psychoanalytic C. ecological D. ethological
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B. psychoanalytic.
Psychoanalytic theory, primarily developed by Sigmund Freud and later expanded by Erik Erikson, posits that human development is largely driven by unconscious forces and emotions. According to this perspective, behavior and development are influenced by internal drives, many of which are not immediately accessible to conscious awareness. Freud’s theory focuses on the role of unconscious desires, early childhood experiences, and the internal conflict between the id, ego, and superego in shaping personality and development.
One of the core ideas in psychoanalytic theory is that much of human development happens at an emotional and unconscious level. For example, Freud’s stages of psychosexual development, such as the oral, anal, and phallic stages, highlight the emotional and instinctual drives that influence behavior during early childhood. These stages emphasize that the way an individual resolves conflicts at each stage has a profound and lasting impact on their psychological growth. Furthermore, unresolved conflicts can manifest as emotional difficulties or disorders later in life.
Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, which expanded on Freud’s ideas, also stress the importance of emotional conflict at various points in life. Each of Erikson’s eight stages involves a central emotional conflict or crisis, such as trust versus mistrust in infancy or identity versus role confusion during adolescence. Successful resolution of these conflicts leads to the development of key virtues, such as hope, will, and competence, that shape a person’s emotional and social well-being.
In contrast, other theoretical perspectives like the cognitive or ecological theories emphasize conscious thought processes, social environments, or ecological systems rather than the unconscious emotional forces that are central to psychoanalytic theory. The psychoanalytic perspective, thus, remains a distinctive approach in understanding the role of unconscious emotions and desires in development.