Which theoretical orientation in Child and Youth Care focuses on past influences shaping behavior?

The psychoanalytic orientation emphasizes the importance of past experiences and unconscious processes in shaping an individual's behavior and personality traits. Founded by Sigmund Freud, this approach explores how early relationships, particularly those with caregivers, influence later behavior and emotional responses. It posits that unresolved conflicts from childhood can manifest in various ways during adolescence or adulthood, often leading to difficulties in relationships, self-regulation, or emotional well-being.

Psychoanalytic theory also introduces concepts such as defense mechanisms and the significance of dreams, highlighting how the unconscious mind operates beneath the surface of everyday consciousness. By understanding these past influences, practitioners in the Child and Youth Care field can better support youth in addressing and processing their feelings and behaviors.

In contrast, humanist approaches center on present experiences and the individual's capacity for self-actualization, behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and the influence of external stimuli rather than past influences, and symbolic interactionism examines social interactions and meanings rather than past events or unconscious influences. These differences underscore the unique emphasis psychoanalytic theory places on the formative aspects of an individual’s history in understanding their current behavior.