the developing person through the life span 8e chapter 2– theories of development 1. how are...

The Developing Person Through the Life Span 8e

Chapter 2– Theories of Development

1.How are theories useful?2.What are the basic

assumptions of psychoanalytic, behaviorist and cognitive

theories?

What Theories DoDevelopmental Theory

Oa systematic statement of principles and generalizations

Oprovides a framework for understanding how and why people change as they grow older.

OTheoriesOform basis for hypotheses

that can be tested by research studies O formulating _________________________ is

more difficult that finding right answers

Ogenerate discoveriesOoffer insight and guidance

by providing coherent view

A little history….O 16thCentury:

Preformationism

Children were viewed as miniature

all-ready formed adults.

17th CenturyJohn LockeForerunner to Behaviorism“We can train children”Tabula rasa:

Parents could “mold” their child through careful instruction, good examples and rewards for good behavior.

His approach led to a change from harshness to kindness.

Did he believe Nature or Nurture were more important?

18th Century

O Jean Jacques RousseauO Child-centered approachO Noble Savages:

O Children had a natural map for growthO Adult training would HURT growthOWhich did he believe was more

powerful? Nature or Nurture?

18th and 19th CenturyO John Tetens and Frederich Carus

urged that attention to development be extended through adulthood.

Grand TheoriesO PsychoanalyticO Behaviorism (learning theory)O Cognitive

O grand in that they are…

Psychoanalytic Theory

A theory of human development that holds that irrational, unconscious drives and motives, often originating in childhood, underlie human behavior.

Psychoanalytic TheoryO Psychoanalytic theory originated

with Sigmund Freud (1856– 1939)O Introduced “stages” in childhood

O how a person experiences and resolves conflicts determines personality and patterns of behavior

ODid not believe in “stages” in adulthood

Erikson – 1902-1994

O a follower of Freud, interested in

O culture diversityO social changeO psychological crises

Psychoanalytic TheoryErickson’s Ideas

O Described eight developmental stages, each characterized by a challenging developmentalcrisis.

O His first five stages build on Freud’s theory; but he also described three adult stages.

Erickson’s Ideas:Like Freud, believed problems in adult life may stem from unresolved conflicts of childhoodUnlike Freud, Erikson stressed relationships rather than sexual urges

Psychoanalytic TheoryO Erikson – 1902-1994

O Described eight developmental stages

1. Trust vs. Mistrust 2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt3. Initiative vs. Guilt4. Industry vs. Inferiority5. Identity vs. Role Confusion6. Intimacy vs. Isolation7. Generativity vs. Stagnation8. Integrity vs. Despair

Behaviorism

OWatson 1878 – 19581.Began the American study

of behaviorism2.Studied “directly

observable” stimuli and response behavior

3. Built upon Classical Conditioning (Pavlov’s Dog)

Behaviorism

OAlso called learning theory as it describes the laws and processes by which behavior is learned.

WE CAN TRAIN CHILDREN…OR ANYONE!

WE CAN TRAIN CHILDREN…OR ANYONE!

BehaviorismO Classical

Conditioning: OAdults could mold children’s behavior

by controlling stimulus-response

associationsO Little Albert/White

Rat

BehaviorismB.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

OOperant Conditioning O Behaviors can

be increased by using reinforcers

OBehaviors can be decreased by using punishments

OReinforcers are: OPraiseOFoodORewards

OPunishments are:OWithdrawal of

privilegesOdisapproval

BehaviorismSocial Learning Theory-

Albert Bandura (b. 1925)

O an extension of behaviorism that emphasizes the influence that other people have over a person’s behavior, i.e. groups

O ModelingO A person observes the actions of

others and then copies themO Most likely to occur if model is

admired or observer is inexperienced

Cognitive TheoryOThoughts and

expectations profoundly affect action.

OFocuses on changes in how people think over time.

OJean Piaget (1896–1980)

Children develop as they actively _______________________________________ the environment

Children develop in

Children’s understanding is very ____________ from adult’s

20

Cognitive Theory

OJean Piaget’s 4 Stages OsensorimotorOpre-operationalOconcrete operationalOformal operational

21

Cognitive Theory OPiaget loved BIG WORDS. Here

are some of them!

OCognitive equilibrium—state of mental balance.

O Assimilation: incorporate new events into existing schemas

O Accommodation: change ideas

O If threatened, how do we achieve equilibrium again?

Cognitive Theory

Information ProcessingO Not a single theory but a frameworkO Inspired by how a computer worksO How people think before they respondO How attention and thought affects

mental functionO Relationship between one person’s

thinking and another’s

Newer TheoriesSociocultural Theory

OLev Vygotsky (1896-1934)ODevelopment results from a person’s

interaction with their social and cultural surroundings

OCulture is integral to developmentOApprenticeship in thinking: how

cognition is “taught” by the older and more skilled

OZone of proximal development— the range of skills a learner can perform with assistance but not independentlyOlearner is drawn into

learning by teacher

Sociocultural Theory The Zone of Proximal Development

1. How would you teach a 5 year old to ride a bike?

2. How would you teach a young child how to use a nebulizer?

The Universal Perspective

Humanism “Humans are, at the basic level,

alike”OAbraham Maslow (1908-1970

OStresses the potential of humans for goodOAll people have the same needs (p. 51)OEmphasize what people have in common

The Universal Perspective

Humanism “Hate the sin but love the sinner”

OCarl Rogers (1902-1987)OAccept and respect one’s

personhoodOPeople are innately good, but may

not always make good choices

The Universal Perspective

Evolutionary TheoryO Based on Darwin’s ideasO Very controversial in psychological circlesO Humans are more alike than differentO Human development influenced by drives

to survive and reproduceO Selective adaptation: process by which

people adapt to their environment

What Theories Contribute

OEclectic perspectiveOThe approach taken by most

developmentalists OAspects of each of the various

theories of development are applied rather than adhering exclusively to one

30

What Theories ContributeOPsychoanalytic theory has made us aware of the

importance of early childhood experiences.OBehaviorism has shown effect of the immediate

environment on learning.OCognitive theory shows how intellectual process

and thinking affect actions.

OSociocultural theory has reminded us of the importance of culture in learning.

OUniversal Theories stress that human differences are less significant than what all humans, in every place and era, share.