Final answer:
Sigmund Freud's perspective within the field of psychology was psychoanalysis. This theory emphasizes the influence of unconscious drives and childhood experiences on an individual's personality and employs methods like dream interpretation and free association to explore psychological issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main answer to what Sigmund Freud's perspective within the field of psychology was is c) Psychoanalysis. Freud's psychoanalytic theory posits that unconscious drives, many of which stem from childhood, heavily influence an individual's personality and behaviors. Freud believed that by bringing these unconscious elements to the conscious mind through psychoanalysis, individuals could address psychological challenges. His exploration of the unconscious utilized methods like dream analysis and free association, diving into the complex interactions between the id, ego, and superego within the human psyche.Psychoanalysis distinguished itself from other psychological theories through its in-depth focus on the unconscious mind and its deterministic view of human behavior—spearheaded by Freud's belief in the overwhelming influence of unconscious drives on an individual's personality. This perspective contrasts behaviorism, which attributes human behavior to a combination of environment and genetics, and humanism, which champions innate potential and personal growth. The explanation for Freud's theory consists of over a century of analysis and development, which has spread into various schools of thought, including those that address Freud's original emphasis on sex and aggression.In conclusion, Sigmund Freud's perspective in psychology is best defined by his creation and development of psychoanalysis—a field that has profoundly influenced the understanding of human behavior and personality through the exploration of the unconscious mind.