Which of the following topics would most likely be studied by a personality psychologist using the psychodynamic perspective?

• A. The effects of neurotransmitters on behavior
• B. Unconscious motives and childhood experiences influencing adult personality
• C. The impact of group norms on decision-making
• D. How reinforcement shapes observable actions

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the psychodynamic perspective in psychology, which focuses on unconscious motives, internal conflicts, and early childhood experiences as key influences on personality development.
2. Step 2: Review each option and identify which aligns with the psychodynamic approach. For example, the effects of neurotransmitters relate more to biological psychology, not psychodynamic theory.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the impact of group norms on decision-making is typically studied within social psychology, not the psychodynamic perspective.
4. Step 4: Note that how reinforcement shapes observable actions is a focus of behavioral psychology, which emphasizes learning through rewards and punishments.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the topic involving unconscious motives and childhood experiences influencing adult personality best fits the psychodynamic perspective, as it directly relates to the core concepts of this approach.