Unconscious Motives in Psychoanalytic Theory - Essay Example

Conversely, the superego operated on the ideal principle and sought to preserve morality as defined by society. Finally, the ego operated on the reality principle whereby, it sought to establish a balance between the impulsive demands of the id and the moral principles of the superego. Critics of the psychoanalytic theory claim that its proponents failed to take into consideration culture’s impact on the formation of personality.

The humanistic perspective centers on the assumption that all humans are innately good whereby, their goodness fuels actions guaranteed to benefit the entire society. In addition, they also presume that all humans possess free will, which enables them to choose actions aimed at achieving their ultimate potential. Carl Rogers’ contributions in support of the humanistic perspective were profound. He coined the term Self-concept in reference to an individual’s conscious awareness of their own identity.

Rogers proposed that individuals fulfill their potential when they positively regard themselves and at the same time, are positively regarded by others. The social-cognitive theory views modeling and reciprocal determinism as the main motivators for behavior modification, which in turn leads to the development of personality. Reciprocal determinism refers to the role of both external and internal factors influencing the formation of stable, unique traits of an individual. Proponents further infer that humans learn through observing the attitudes and behavior of those around them and the resulting outcomes of these behaviors.

Albert Bandura was among the renowned proponents of this theory. Upon research, he found out that an individual forms an idea of how a new behavior is performed, stores it, and thereafter the coded information serves as a guide for future actions. The social cognitive theory also focuses on self-efficacy, which refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to achieve desired outcomes when undertaking a specific task. Critics infer that social cognitive theory disregards the role of genes and hormones in influencing an individual’s development of personality.