Of the following arguments, which is least likely to have come from those who identify themselves as positive psychologists?
A) Freud placed too much emphasis on psychopathology and psychological distress.
B) Rogers's and Maslow's emphasis on human potentials provided good models for psychological theorizing.
C) The result of Freud having based his theory on his clinical work is that current psychological theories overemphasize human potentials.
D) To bring attention to the positive side of human nature would be to fill in an overly wide gap in our current understanding of individuals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Positive psychologists generally criticize traditional psychoanalytic theories, which they believe focus excessively on negative aspects of human behavior. Therefore, it is unlikely that they would argue that Freud's theory emphasizes human potentials too little. Option A is at odds with positive psychology's emphasis on positivity, so it is also an unlikely statement. Option B and option D, which reflect a more positive perspective, are both in line with the principles of positive psychology.

Of the Following Arguments, Which Is Least Likely to Have