Compare and contrast the psychoanalytic, behaviourist, and humanist assumptions about human nature.

Psychoanalysts view humans as essentially "bad" (primitive, animalistic, sexual and irrational) and unconsciously driven to behave in certain ways. This is a pessimistic view of humanity. Behaviourists view human nature as nonexistent. Rather, behaviour develops under the control of the environment. Since behaviour is regarded as conditioned reactions to observable stimuli, the implication is that there is no such thing as free will. Humanists view humans as essentially "good" and unique among species because they have free will (conscious and rational), a natural potential for growth, and a basic need to fulfill this potential. This is an optimistic view of humanity.