Which factor did neo-Freudians emphasize as important for personality development?

• A. Biological drives
• B. Unconscious conflicts
• C. Ego development
• D. Social factors

Answer: (D)

Neo-Freudians center personality development on social factors—the way we relate to others, our family dynamics, and the broader cultural context shape who we become. They argue that interpersonal relationships and social needs drive growth and change across the lifespan. For instance, Adler emphasized social interest and striving for belonging, Horney highlighted how basic anxiety arises from relationships, and Erikson outlined psychosocial stages where each era brings social tasks that influence identity. This focus on social context explains why social factors best capture what neo-Freudians emphasized. Biological drives reflect Freud’s early theory, unconscious conflicts are rooted in classical psychoanalysis, and ego development can be part of the picture but isn’t the central emphasis in neo-Freudian thought.