Chapter 1 - Theories of Development Flashcards
Theory
An organized set of ideas designed to explain and make predictions about development;
A source of predictions that can be tested through research
The 5 Major Theoretical Perspectives in Child Development
Biological
Psychodynamic
Learning
Cognitive-developmental
Contextual
James Mark Baldwin
First psychologist appointed at University of Toronto
An advocate for staged development theories
Theorized that development begins from simple behavioural movements, to more complex movement, into abstract thought in adulthood
Staged development theories - kids develop in stages, constantly building on earlier skills
Who invented the biological perspective?
G. Stanley Hall
G. Stanley Hall
Biological Perspective
Studied and interviewed 100,000
children
In order to understand what typical development looks like
He based his work on evolutionary biology rather than physical sciences
Where did G. Stanley Hall derive his information?
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Natural selection: organisms whose individual traits are best suited, or adapted, for survival in a particular environment are the organisms most likely to survive
Who invented the maturational theory?
Arnold Gesell (1880 – 1961)
Maturational Theory
Arnold Gesell (1880 – 1961)
Development is a natural, biological, unfolding plan
The environment does not matter
Speech, play, and reasoning would emerge spontaneously
Ethological Theory
Views development from an evolutionary perspective, such that human behaviours can be adaptive and have survival value
Humans are biologically programmed
Can only (or best) develop certain skills at specific times (i.e., critical periods)
* E.g., imprinting by chicks
* Lasts about a day
* Attachment theories developed from this basic understanding
Children’s genes influence almost every aspect of development
Assume people inherit many of these adaptive behaviours, but also believe that experience is important for the development
Critical Period
The time in development when a specific type of learning can take place
Before or after the period, the same learning becomes difficult or impossible
Who invented the psychodynamic perspective?
Sigmund Frued
Psychodynamic Perspective - Psychoanalysis
A psychological theory proposes that development is largely determined by how well people resolve unconscious conflicts that arise during development
Freud’s theories are controversial, criticized for limited initial research and claims about women
His ideas about personality and psychosexual development have been influential in developmental research
Psychodynamic Perspective - Psychosexual Development
A second aspect of psychoanalysis was Freud’s account of psychosexual development
Freud believed that humans, through a force called libido are instinctively motivated from birth to experience physical pleasure
As children grow, libido shifts to different parts of the body called erogenous zones
Psychosexual Development Stages
Birth to 1 year,
Oral,
Erogenous zone: mouth; gratify oral sucking urges
1-3 years,
Anal,
Erogenous zone: anus; release and withhold feces
3 to 6 years,
Phallic,
Erogenous zone: genitalia; learn to suppress attraction to the parent of the opposite sex and identify with the parent of the same sex
6 years to adolescence,
Latency,
Erogenous zone: none; libido is repressed as children go about daily business
Adolescence,
Genital,
Erogenous zone: genitalia; attraction to the opposite sex (not the parent)
Psychodynamic Perspective - Theory of Personality
Id - seeking to satisfy bodily needs/wants
Ego - tries to satisfy the Id’s needs in a socially acceptable way
Super-ego - sense of what is right or wrong
These personality traits are influenced by psychosexual development
The id
A reservoir of primitive instincts and drives
Present at birth
Presses for immediate gratification of bodily needs and wants
Eg. a hungry baby crying
The ego
The practical, rational component of personality
It begins to emerge during the first year of life as infants learn they cannot always have what they want
Tries to resolve conflicts that occur when the instinctive demands of the id encounter the obstacles of the real world
Tries to meet the id’s desires with realistic and socially acceptable objects and actions
Eg. Billy sees a child play with a toy he wants. His ego would encourage him to play with the friend and the toy together
The superego
The moral agent or the conscious
Emerges during the preschool years as children begin to internalize adult standards of right and wrong
Eg. If the toy was left alone, Billy’s id might urge him to grab the toy and run, but his superego might remind him that it is wrong
Who invented the psychosocial theory?
Erik Erikson and Freud’s daughter