Which theory asserts that personality is shaped by the environment and learned behaviors?

Behaviorism is the theory that asserts that personality is primarily shaped by the environment and learned behaviors. This approach emphasizes the role of interaction with the environment in determining how individuals develop their personalities. According to behaviorists, behaviors are learned through conditioning – both classical and operant. Environment plays a crucial role; for example, if a person receives positive reinforcement for certain behaviors, they are likely to repeat those behaviors, thereby shaping their personality over time.

This perspective contrasts with other theories. Cognitive Theory focuses on mental processes and how thoughts influence behavior, rather than emphasizing learned behavior from the environment. Humanistic Theory places importance on personal growth and self-actualization, viewing individuals as inherently good and capable of personal change, rather than attributing personality strictly to learned experiences. Psychoanalysis delves into unconscious processes and childhood experiences to explain personality development, which is unrelated to the behaviorist view of observable actions and environmental stimulus-response patterns.

Thus, behaviorism’s foundation in environmental factors and learned behaviors clearly identifies it as the correct choice in this context.