Personality theories try to unravel the nature of human beings. There is a myriad of theories that various scholars have formatted to understand human behavior and the motives behind the actions they display. This discussion focuses on the differences and similarities between psychoanalytic and behavioral theories of personality. It concludes by identifying the theory that most aligns with me. Key Idea The psychoanalytic theory states that human behavior results from experiences between three sections of the mind: the id, the ego, and the superego. Jessica (2018) posited that the fundamental idea of this theory is that human growth is controlled by inner drives, unmet needs, and unconscious motivations from childhood. On the contrary, the behavioral theory focuses on how students acquire knowledge or learn, and its key idea is that all habits or behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment. Those hereditary influences have little impact on these behaviors (Jessica, 2018). Differences According to the psychoanalytic theory, humans’ innate drives and impulses are majorly inborn, and that the unconscious mind comprises instinctual drives and impulses (Phelps, 2015). The theory states that survival is linked to drives and instinctual drives and impulses. On human behavioral control, the psychoanalytic theory maintains that the unconscious drive plays a critical role in controlling human behavior. Zhang (2020) maintained that the psychoanalytic theory usually refutes the idea that human behavior is shaped by the environment or external factors. Regarding the concept of human nature, the psychoanalytic theory states that humans are born evil. On the other hand, the behavioral theory tends to hold that cultural and sub-cultural conditioning shape an individual’s behavior. Consequently, the personality of an individual is formed. It also holds that human lives are already pre-determined even before they are born. The behavioral model adopts treatment centered on core learning concepts and different learning mechanisms and strategies, including reinforcing (Phelps, 2015). It is utterly concerned with the idea of free will. The behaviorists assume that acceptable conditioning, reinforcement, imitation, modeling result in normal behavior. Moreover, the behaviorists are conscious that other key processes within the brain, including perception, might be taking place. Still, such activity is not assessed simply because it cannot be evaluated. However, the psychoanalytic theory depends heavily on suppositions and speculation. Although psychoanalytic theory can explain behavior, it cannot relate observable behavior to the force that brings about that behavior. As such, it is more theoretical than scientific as compared to behavioral theory. Similarly, the behavioral theory holds that cultural conditioning influences behaviors and personality, while psychoanalytical theory argues the unconscious mind shapes the behavior or personality..

1. Personality theories try to unravel the nature of human beings.
There is a myriad of theories that various scholars have
formatted to understand human behavior and the motives behind
the actions they display. This discussion focuses on the
differences and similarities between psychoanalytic and
behavioral theories of personality. It concludes by identifying
the theory that most aligns with me.
Key Idea
The psychoanalytic theory states that human behavior results
from experiences between three sections of the mind: the id, the
ego, and the superego. Jessica (2018) posited that the
fundamental idea of this theory is that human growth is
controlled by inner drives, unmet needs, and unconscious
motivations from childhood. On the contrary, the behavioral
theory focuses on how students acquire knowledge or learn, and
its key idea is that all habits or behaviors are learned through
interaction with the environment. Those hereditary influences
have little impact on these behaviors (Jessica, 2018).
Differences
According to the psychoanalytic theory, humans’ innate drives
and impulses are majorly inborn, and that the unconscious mind
comprises instinctual drives and impulses (Phelps, 2015). The
theory states that survival is linked to drives and instinctual
drives and impulses. On human behavioral control, the
psychoanalytic theory maintains that the unconscious drive
plays a critical role in controlling human behavior.
Zhang (2020) maintained that the psychoanalytic theory usually
refutes the idea that human behavior is shaped by the

2. environment or external factors. Regarding the concept of
human nature, the psychoanalytic theory states that humans are
born evil. On the other hand, the behavioral theory tends to hold
that cultural and sub-cultural conditioning shape an individual’s
behavior. Consequently, the personality of an individual is
formed. It also holds that human lives are already pre-
determined even before they are born.
The behavioral model adopts treatment centered on core
learning concepts and different learning mechanisms and
strategies, including reinforcing (Phelps, 2015). It is utterly
concerned with the idea of free will. The behaviorists assume
that acceptable conditioning, reinforcement, imitation, modeling
result in normal behavior. Moreover, the behaviorists are
conscious that other key processes within the brain, including
perception, might be taking place. Still, such activity is not
assessed simply because it cannot be evaluated. However, the
psychoanalytic theory depends heavily on suppositions and
speculation. Although psychoanalytic theory can explain
behavior, it cannot relate observable behavior to the force that
brings about that behavior. As such, it is more theoretical than
scientific as compared to behavioral theory. Similarly, the
behavioral theory holds that cultural conditioning influences
behaviors and personality, while psychoanalytical theory argues
the unconscious mind shapes the behavior or personality.
Similarity
Both psychoanalytical and behavioral theories of personality
refute the idea that the environment shapes human behavior.
They are deterministic as they believe that there is a force that
propels every action hat human engages in. Secondly, the two
theories acknowledge the role that experiences play in shaping
human behavior. Precisely, the behaviorists hold that the
previous conditioning determines the present personalities of
humans. The same idea is held by Jessica (2018), who

3. appreciates the fact that reinforcement and punishment can help
in behavior modification.
In conclusion, psychoanalytic and behavioral theories are the
two most important theories that explain human personality.
Despite the striking differences that appear in the two, the two
theories are similar in a way. As such, I would select the
psychoanalytic theory since it pays attention to the roles that a
person’s unconscious and early childhood experience play.
More importantly, the theory explains how personality is shaped
by the structures of the human mind, including the id, ego, and
superego.
References:
Jessica, L. (2018). Implicit theories of personality across
development: Impacts on coping, resilience, and mental health.
The SAGE Handbook of Personality and Individual Differences:
Volume I: The Science of Personality and Individual
Differences
, 152.
Phelps, B. J. (2015). Behavioral perspectives on personality and
self.
The Psychological Record, 65
(3), 557-565.
Zhang, S. (2020). Psychoanalysis: The Influence of Freud’s
Theory in Personality Psychology. In
International Conference on Mental Health and Humanities
Education (ICMHHE 2020)
(pp. 229-232). Atlantis Press.