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B. F. Skinner’s theory that human behavior is controlled by environment would be best challenged by Freud’s theories of human behavior and what motivates us. Inherent desires for sex, food, and physical comfort, according to Freud, motivate us on three different levels of consciousness. While B.F. Skinner believes that we are entirely a product of our environment, Freud believes that we are a product of internal conflicting psychological urges. When taking into consideration the two theories, one may assume that exhibited behavior is more than likely a situation where one’s urges are controlled by environment and the environment is built based on human urges.

To assimilate the two beliefs, one must understand that neither can be an absolute as a rule. Too many factors will delineate that human consciousness and behavior are a compilation of life experiences, instinct, and genetics. Skinner brings into question the very essence of individuality without determining the even broader scope of total existence as a society. Any environment that one creates has a predicated outcome that overshadows any random or spontaneous results that may occur. Simply put, the easiest possible explanation is usually true.



Although Freud concerns his theories on basic instinct and the congenital workings of the human psyche as a generality, an opening is left that can account for human uniqueness. B.F. Skinner states that human behavior can be entirely influenced by environment but does not consider genetic and structural anomalies. Only when both insightful theories are considered together can one formulate a complete theory on the subject of human behavior. Unfortunately, there is no empirical formula that will ever explain why we do what we do.