A therapist determines that a client's primary ego rules for living are to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. What theoretical perspective is this therapist likely using?

The therapist's focus on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain aligns closely with psychoanalytic theory, particularly the hedonistic aspects associated with the id, which operates on the pleasure principle. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, formulated that the id seeks immediate gratification and is driven by instinctual desires. This perspective underscores the importance of unconscious motivations and drives, which influence human behavior significantly.

Within psychoanalytic theory, the way an individual navigates pleasure and pain can illuminate various conflicts and motivations originating from early childhood experiences. This framework allows the therapist to explore deeper psychological patterns and inner workings of the client's mind, emphasizing understanding the underlying reasons for these pleasure-seeking and pain-avoidant behaviors.

Other theoretical perspectives, such as behavioral theory, cognitive theory, and humanistic theory, focus on different aspects of human behavior and experience. Behavioral theory emphasizes observable behaviors and learned responses, cognitive theory concentrates on thought processes and beliefs, and humanistic theory prioritizes personal growth and self-actualization. These frameworks do not emphasize the direct pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain in the same foundational manner as psychoanalytic theory does.