According to the psychodynamic perspective on personality, how might Reverend Parris's feelings toward his parishioners be characterized in terms of unconscious motives and internal conflicts?

• A. Parris's distrust and defensiveness toward his parishioners may reflect unconscious anxieties and a fear of losing authority, consistent with psychodynamic theories of internal conflict.
• B. Parris's positive and nurturing attitude toward his parishioners demonstrates a well-integrated personality with little evidence of unconscious conflict.
• C. Parris's feelings toward his parishioners are best explained by behavioral conditioning rather than unconscious motives.
• D. Parris's relationship with his parishioners is primarily shaped by genetic factors and inherited traits.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the psychodynamic perspective, which emphasizes unconscious motives, internal conflicts, and how these influence personality and behavior.
2. Step 2: Identify Reverend Parris's feelings toward his parishioners, noting that he exhibits distrust and defensiveness rather than warmth or nurturing behavior.
3. Step 3: Consider how these feelings might reflect unconscious anxieties, such as fear of losing authority or control, which are common themes in psychodynamic theory.
4. Step 4: Recognize that psychodynamic theory explains behavior as a result of internal conflicts between different parts of the psyche (id, ego, superego) and unconscious fears or desires.
5. Step 5: Conclude that Parris's distrust and defensiveness can be interpreted as manifestations of unconscious internal conflicts and anxieties, consistent with the psychodynamic perspective.