Yes, Sullivan's pragmatist philosophy may have influenced his rejection of Freud's theory of biological drives as the primary motivator of human behavior. Sullivan believed that human behavior is primarily shaped by social and cultural factors, rather than innate biological drives.
According to Sullivan, the development of an individual's personality is largely determined by their social environment, particularly their relationships with other people. He believed that people are motivated by the desire to establish and maintain interpersonal connections, and that the quality of these relationships has a significant impact on mental health and well-being.
This emphasis on interpersonal relationships as the key motivator of human behavior can be seen as consistent with Sullivan's pragmatist philosophy, which emphasizes the practical consequences of beliefs and ideas. Rather than focusing on abstract or theoretical explanations for behavior, Sullivan's approach emphasizes the importance of understanding the concrete, practical realities of people's lives and the social context in which they live.
In summary, Sullivan's pragmatist philosophy may have played a role in his rejection of Freud's theory of biological drives as the primary motivator of human behavior, and his emphasis on interpersonal relationships as the key factor in shaping personality and mental health.
