Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 1981 A Critique of Three Psychological Theories of Behavior and the Presuppositions Which Underly Their Model of Man Marek Jantos Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Recommended Citation Jantos, Marek, "A Critique of Three Psychological Theories of Behavior and the Presuppositions Which Underly Their Model of Man" (1981). Master's Theses. 12. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/12 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. Andrews U nive rsity School o f Graduate Studies A CRITIQUE OF THREE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR AND THE PRESUPPOSITIONS WHICH UNDERLY THEIR MODEL OF MAN Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment o f the Requirements fo r the Degree Master of Arts by Marek Jantos August 1981 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A CRITIQUE OF THREE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR AND THE PRESUPPOSITIONS WHICH UNDERLY THEIR MODEL OF MAN A thesis presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements fo r the degree Master of Arts by Marek Jantos raduate Studies /Û . / f . J C :y < y r G. Knight ^ _ _ 7 1 1 ^1 M. J ./ Meircrfant ' ' Date A d ^ Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT A CRITIQUE OF THREE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR AND THE PRESUPPOSITIONS WHICH UNDERLY THEIR MODEL OF MAN by Marek Jantos Chairperson: Ruth R. Murdoch Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Andrews U niversity Department o f Education T itle : A CRITIQUE OF THREE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR AND THE PRESUPPOSITIONS WHICH UNDERLY THEIR MODEL OF MAN Name of researcher: Marek Jantos Name and title of faculty adviser: Ruth R. Murdoch, Ed. D. Date completed: August 1981 Problem Each psychological theory of behavior is based on a specific model of man. The models of man in turn, are built on particular presuppositions concerning the nature of man. To fu lly understand the implications and lim itations of the different models and theories i t is necessary to examine the presuppositions upon which each model and theory is b u ilt. The purpose o f th is study is to examine and critique the presuppositions of three models of man as presented in three psychological theories of behavior. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Method The method of this study consisted of a search of literature using as primary sources the writings of the authors of the theories and as secondary sources commentaries on the theories. On the basis of the statements found in the primary sources, each theory's model of man was restructured and the underlying presuppositions critiqued. Conclusions The models and presuppositions o f the three psychological theories of behavior underestimate the uniqueness and complexity of human nature. This leads to a theoretical dehumanization of man and to a psychological dilemma o f meaninglessness in existence. A Christian model of man may provide a more complete, meaningful and coherent view of man and should be further studied in more detail. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... v i i i Chapter I . INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 Problem ....................................................................................... 1 Justification of Study ........................................................... 2 Purpose o f the S tu d y ............................................................... 3 Definitions ............................................................................... 5 B e h avio ristic School ........................................................... 5 Humanistic School ............................................................... 5 Model o f M an ........................................................................... 5 Presupposition ....................................................................... 5 Psychoanalytic School ....................................................... 5 School o f Psychology ...................................................... ; . 5 M aterials and Methods ........................................................... 5 Organization of the Thesis ................................................... 6 I I . PSYCHOLOGY—THE STUDY OF MAN................................................... 7 Presuppositions ....................................................................... 9 M odels ........................................................................................... 15 Sum m ary ....................................................................................... 20 I I I . THE PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL OF M A N............................................ 21 The H is to ric a l Development o f the Psychoanalytic View 22 Sigmund Freud - The A u th o r ................................................ 23 Freud on Human S e x u a lity ................................................... 27 Freud on the Unconscious M i n d ........................................ 30 Freud, Mythology and the Occult Phenomena .................. 34 Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory ...... ......................................... 38 S tructural Concepts ........................................................... 38 Dynamic Concepts ................................................................... 40 Developmental Concepts ....................................................... 42 A Model o f Man ........................................................................... 45 The Origin of M an ............................................................... 47 Man the Subject of the Unconscious ................................ 49 Sum m ary ....................................................................................... 55 IV. THE BEHAVIORISTIC MODEL OF MAN................................................ 56 H is to ric a l Development o f the Be h avio ristic View . 57 Fechner's and Wundt's Psychophysic ................................ 57 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter Thorndike's and Pavlov's Laboratory Experiments . 59 Modern Behaviorism ............................................................... 59 Skinner's Behaviorism ........................................................... 61 Behaviorism as a Philosophy ........................................... 62 Respondent Behavior ........................................................... 65 Operant Behavior ................................................................... 66 Role of the Environment ................................................... 67 A Model o f Man ........................................................................... 68 The Origin of M an ............................................................... 69 Man the Subject of the Environment ................................ 70 The Mind o f M a n ................................................................... 71 Sum m ary ...................................................................................... 75 V. THE HUMANISTIC MODEL OF M A N................................................... 77 The H is to ric a l Development o f the Humanistic View . 80 Heidegger's Phenomenology ............................................... 80 Roger's Self Theory ............................................................... 85 Major Constructs of Roger's Theory ................................ 86 The Organism and the S e l f ............................................... 87 Congruence and Incongruence ............................................ 88 P ositive Regard ................................................................... 89 Maslow's Self-Actualization Theory .................................... 90 Hierarchy of Needs ............................................................... 90 Maslow's Concept o f S e lf-A ctu a liza tio n ........................ 91 A Model o f Man ........................................................................... 92 The Origin of M an ............................................................... 93 The H o lis tic Nature o f Man ................................................ 93 Uniqueness o f Man ............................................................... 94 Growth and the Positive Nature o f M a n ........................ 95 Man's Subjective Nature ................................................... 97 Sum m ary .....................................................................................