Final answer:
In literary analysis, one can apply Freudian or Jungian psychoanalytical theories to gain a deeper understanding of characters and their unconscious motivations, while behaviorist approaches are less relevant to character analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
To better understand the characters in a text, applying psychoanalytical theories can be highly beneficial. One could select from the Freudian, Lacanian, or Jungian approaches, each offering a different lens through which to view literature. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences in shaping personality and behavior. By using Freud's methods, such as dream analysis and free association, readers and scholars can attempt to uncover the deeper meanings behind characters' actions and thoughts.
Carl Jung, a neo-Freudian, introduced concepts such as the collective unconscious and archetypes, providing another rich framework for interpretation. Jung's theory might allow an understanding of characters based on universal symbols and themes that resonate across various cultures and time periods. Unlike Freud and Jung, behaviorists like Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner focus on observable behavior rather than inner experiences, and while their work significantly contributes to psychology, they are less applicable in literary character analysis. To write a psychoanalytic literary essay, one would choose relevant authors or works and apply these theories to deepen the analysis of characters and narratives.