comparison of approaches Flashcards
compare the approaches in terms of views on development
psychodynamic approach presents most coherent theory:
- concepts & processes have specific stages (psychosexual stages) determined by age
- freud saw little development after genital stage in teen years
cognitive approach:
- stage theoires contributed to understanding of child development
- eg. as part of intellectual development, children from schema
biological approach:
- maturation
- genetically determined changes in child’s psychological status influence psychological & behavioural characteristics
humanistic approach:
- development of self as ongoing throughout life
- childhood very important & relationship with parents is important –> unconditional positive regard
behaviourist approach/social learning theory:
- don’t offer coherent stages of development
- see processes which underpin learning as continuous, at any age
compare the approaches in terms of nature vs. nurture
biological approach & learning approaches:
- behaviourists characterised babies as ‘blank slates’ at birth & suggest behaviour comes about through learned associations, reinforcements or (SLT) observation/imitation = nurture
- biological approach argues behaviour is result of genetic blueprint we inherit from parents (genotype), though the way it’s expressed is influenced by environment (phenotype) = nature
psychodynamic humanistic & cognitive psychologists:
- freud believed most behaviour driven by biological drives/instincts, but also saw relationships with parents as having fundamental role in behavioural development
- humanistic psychologists regard parents, friends & society as important on someone’s self-concept
- cognitive psychologists recognise many of information processing abilities & schema are innate, but constantly refined through experience
define nature
human behaviour influenced by inherited biological factors
define nurture
human behaviour is influenced by environment & experience
