Sample Solution

The psychoanalytic theoretical orientation, developed by Sigmund Freud and based on his early research into the unconscious mind, is largely focused on how events and experiences from childhood shape our personality. According to this view, our personalities are largely determined by the influence of internal psychological forces such as instinctual drives (e.g., sex drive), defense mechanisms (e.g., repression or denial) and unconscious conflicts. The primary focus of psychoanalytic theory is to uncover any unconscious mental processes that may be causing an individual’s current behavior patterns or emotional issues in order to then address them in therapy sessions.

In contrast, trait theory emphasizes the idea that human personality is composed of a set of distinct characteristics that people possess to varying degrees across their lifespan. Trait theorists look at personality as made up of a certain number of traits which are almost like building blocks for one’s overall character – these can include things such as extraversion/introversion, agreeableness/hostility, conscientiousness/impulsivity etc.. This theory postulates that these traits remain relatively stable throughout life and determine how individuals will behave in different situations. Unlike psychoanalytic theory which leans towards understanding individuals in terms of their past traumas and unresolved conflicts, trait theorists take a more data-driven approach to looking at human behavior – they rarely delve into the inner workings or hidden motivations behind why someone behaves a certain way but instead look simply at what kind of behavior they tend to exhibit most often over time when faced with similar situations.