Learning Theory Of Applied Behavioral Analysis

The psychoanalytic theory mainly focuses on how the unconscious mind influences behavior and thoughts. Emphasis is placed on previous childhood experiences and events and how they may have influence on the adult mind and actions. The psychoanalytic theory also proposes that people are innately bad natured. While I do agree that childhood experiences and traumas can most definitely affect the adult psyche, I don't believe that childhood experiences are the end-all, be-all of adult behaviors and thoughts. The idea that everything we do as adults stems from something that happened in our childhood seems to be oversimplifying the human brain and its processes. Personally, I also don't think that all humans are innately bad. I find the psychoanalytic theory of psychology to be the least relevant in the current world and the theory in which I least identify with. …show more content…
The learning theory proposes that processes such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observation are critical in looking at how an individual with think and act. In my opinion, the learning theory of psychology is extremely relevant in today's society when it is used appropriately. I have personally seen many examples of how using the principles of the learning theory in applied behavioral analysis can help children learn socially acceptable and positive behaviors. That being said, I would not say that it is the most relevant theory of psychology, simply because it undervalues the individual. The learning theory over-generalizes humans and lumps them into one large category, believing that humans will respond to stimuli in similar fashions. This ignores basic human nature and personality of individuals as they