Theories Explaining Mild Disabilities

Theories Historically• Religion--understand man’s relation to god

• Philosophy--understand meaning of individual’s life

• Psychology--understand man’s relation to man (social) and to environment through science

Abnormal Psychology & Abnormal Child Psychology

• Education--understand children’s learning

Special Education

Why theory?

• Prediction• Prevention• Systematic study

Endogenous, for example:

Genetic/chromosomal abnormalities

Neural tube birth defects Inherited structural brain differences

Temperament Thomas, Chess and Birch (1969, 1977)

• The Easy Child - (40%) regularity, adaptability, and a positive approach to new stimuli.

• The Difficult Child - (10%) irregularity in biological functions, poor adaptability and negative and intense moods.

• The Slow-To-Warm-Up Child - (15%) slow but eventually positive adaptability both to change and to new situations

• The remaining 35% showed no consistent pattern.

Biological Causes 25%

Environmental Causes 75%

Exogenous, for example:

MalnutritionEnvironmental deprivation Child abuse/neglect Brain injuries

Mixed Causes or Etiologies:

Biological vulnerability + harsh enviornment (e.g., stress)

1. allergies, diabetes, 2. biochemical imbalances (sensitivities of

neurotransmitters)3. even abused children

– children who have been abused: w/disabilities (33% of all children) vs. w/o disabilities (9% of all children)

– the number neglected is even more found in disabled populations

4. IQ-- genes account for 48 percent (LESS than half) of the factors that determine IQ. Prenatal development important (e.g, nutrition, toxins)

Major Theories

A. DevelopmentalB. LearningC. Ecological/Sociological

Mixed Causes:A. DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIESDisability occurs when an individual fails to follow or is delayed in a developmental sequence.

A1. PsychodynamicA2. PsychoeductionalA3. CognitiveA4. Moral

A1. Psychodynamic

• Personality = id, ego,

superego

• Deviant behavior– fixation at psychosexual stages – unconscious conflicts among id, ego, superego producing anxiety

– defense mechanisms handling anxiety

A2. Psychoeducational Development

• Psychosocial or ego-development stage– trust vs. mistrust (depression) – autonomy vs. shame and doubt (anxiety)– initiative vs. guilt – industry vs. inferiority – identity vs. identity diffusion – intimacy vs. isolation, – generativity vs. stagnation, and – ego integration vs. despair. (Erickson)

A3. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

STAGES:• Sensorimotor phase• Preoperational phase• Concrete operational phase

• Formal operations phase

A4. Kohlberg’s Moral Development

• Level 1: – Stage 1 Avoid punishment– Stage 2 Gain reward

• Level 2– Stage 3 Gain approval– Stage 4 Defined by rules

• Level 3– Stage 5 for the Public good– Stage 6 related to abstract principles (compassion)

Single Cause B. LEARNING THEORIES (Behavioral)

• Behavior is learned by laws of reinforcement– example: Pavlov’s dogs & Alfred and bunny

• Deviant behavior is learned in the same way– example: Alfred and bunny, dog fears,

Related Learning Theories:

• 1. Social Learning Theory (Bandura)– Learn by observing, especially complex behavior

• 2. Cognitive Behavior Theory– applying reinforcement laws to thoughts (beliefs)

• 3. Learning and Motivation

Single Cause: C. ECOLOGICAL/SOCIOLOGICAL

THEORIES•Deviance a socially determined status (not an individual trait)•Deviance = mismatch between:

– Environment--rules, consequencesopportunities, norms learned from family, school, friends/neighbor/ community

– Child-- instincts, abilities, temperament

•Intervention = a teacher or social worker works with family and school to reinterpret the child's behavior and to change their requirements and expectations regarding that behavior to reduce the conflict in the interactions

Multifactor Functional Etiologies

Biological

Factors +Brain injuryGenetic predispositions

TemperamentPhysical illnesses

Environmental Factors

FamilyParenting stylesFamily dysfunction Substance abuseCultureSchool FailureIrrelevant curricula

Classroom management conflicts

Mass media

What is my Theory?A. Developmental theories

1. Moral development2. Cognitive development3. Psychoeducational4. Psychodynamic

B. Learning theories1. Behavioral2. Social learning3. Cognitive behavioral

C. Ecological/Sociological theoriesD. Genetic/innate plus environmental

theories (functional)1. Stimulation/arousal