Major Theories of Development

CH 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT

PT1
Major Theories of Development
¨  Psychodynamic Perspective
¤ Freud, Erikson’s psychosocial theory
¨  The Behavioral Perspective
¤ Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Social
Cognitive Learning Theory
¨  Cognitive Developmental Perspective
¤ Piaget, Information Processing
¨  Contextual Perspective
¤ Vygotsky Sociocultural Theory
Psychodynamic Perspective
¨  Behavior is motivated by inner forces, memories,
and conflicts that are generally beyond people’s
awareness and control
¨  Freud – Psychoanalytic theory
¤ Unconscious forces determine personality and behavior
¤ Three primary components of personality
n id – A reservoir of primitive instincts and drives
n Ego – Practical, rational, component of personality
n Superego – Conscience
Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
¨  Personality, emotional development
¨  8 stage theory
¤ Emerge in fixed pattern and similar for all people
¤ Each stage unique conflicts/crisis
¨  Search for identity – acceptance of self and society
¨  Outcomes of development reflect the manner and
ease with which children resolve these conflicts
¨  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhBbE8hSz1I
Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
¨  Stage 1: Trust vs Mistrust (birth to 1 year)
¤  Develop the sense the world is a safe place
¨  Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (1 to 3 years)
¤  Realize that one is an independent person who can make
decisions
¨  Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt (3 to 6 years)
¤  Develop a willingness to try new things and handle failure
¨  Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority (6 years to adolescence)
¤  Develop a sense of competence
¨  Stage 5: Identity vs Role Confusion (Adolescence)
¤  Develop a lasting, integrated sense of self
Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
¨  Stage 6: Intimacy vs Isolation (early adulthood)
¤ Develop loving sexual relationships and close
friendships
¨  Stage 7: Generativity vs Stagnation (middle
adulthood)
¤ Develop a sense of contribution to continuity of life
¨  Stage 8: Ego-Integrity vs Despair (late adulthood)
¤ Develop a sense of unity in life’s accomplishments
The Behavioral Perspective
“Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my
own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll
guarantee to take any one at random and train him to
become any type of specialist I might select.” – Watson
The Behavioral Perspective
¨  Developmental changes
in behavior are
explained by:
¤ Classical conditioning –
(e.g. Pavlov’s dogs,
Baby Albert)
¤ https://
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=SGU0IYDlwn0
¤ https://vimeo.com/
35754924
The Behavioral Perspective
Developmental changes in behavior are explained by:
¤ Operant conditioning – (e.g. Skinner)
n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-RS80DVvrg
n System of rewards/reinforcements
n Positive reinforcement
n Negative reinforcement
n Punishment
n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_mIEnnlF4
n Behavior modification/applied behavior analysis
Social Cognitive Theory
¨  Albert Bandura
¨  Emphasizes learning be observing the behavior of
another person
¨  Modeling
¨  Four steps: Attend, recall, reproduce, motivation
¨  Bobo Doll
¤ http://youtu.be/zerCK0lRjp8
Cognitive Developmental Theory
¨  Piaget
¨  Focuses on how children think and how their thinking
changes as they grow
¨  Active child interprets experience
¨  Behavior is explained by emergence of cognitive
structures – patterns of thinking (schemes)
¨  Stage theory – Each stage represents a
fundamental change in how children understand
and organize their environment
4 Stages of Cognitive Development

Information Processing
¨  Models that seek to identify the ways individuals
take in, use, and store information
¨  Humans are like computers
¨  Limited capacity for processing information
¨  Changes in cognitive structures (ex. short term
memory, long term memory) and processes (ex.
rules, strategies, procedures, plans) are essential
components in explaining how adults might process
information more fully and effectively.
The Contextual Perspective
¨  Considers the relationship between individuals and
their physical, cognitive, personality, and social
worlds
¨  Emphasize the importance of culture
¤ The knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated
with a group of people
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
¨  Cognitive development proceeds as a result of
social interactions between members of a culture
¨  Development is an apprenticeship in which children
develop when they work with skilled adults
¨  Adults convey to children the beliefs, customs, and
skills of their culture
¨  Active child
¤ People and settings influence the child, who in turn
influences the people and settings