Which theorists are associated with psychoanalytic theory?

• A. Freud
• B. Erikson
• C. Jung
• D. Freud, Erikson, and Jung

Answer: (D)

Psychoanalytic theory centers on how unconscious processes and early experiences shape thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Freud is the foundational figure who started this approach, introducing ideas like the unconscious, defense mechanisms, and psychosexual development. Carl Jung is a major contributor within the psychoanalytic tradition, founding analytical psychology and expanding the field with concepts such as the collective unconscious and archetypes. Erik Erikson extends psychoanalytic thinking into the realm of development across the entire lifespan, emphasizing eight psychosocial stages and the influence of social and cultural factors on personality. Together, these thinkers map the breadth of the psychoanalytic tradition—from its roots to its broader explorations of personality and development—so including all three best represents psychoanalytic theory.