Maturation Theory Gessell Flashcards
What does Gesell’s maturation theory explain?
How biological maturation (the process of maturing) is related to overall development.
What did Gesell believe about development?
• Development is genetically determined from birth.
• It is a biological process.
• Children follow the same orderly sequence in their development.
• The pace of development may vary depending on physical and intellectual development.
What did Gesell observe in children?
He observed the behaviours of many children and identified developmental milestones (norms) in physical, social, and emotional development.
What are milestones of development?
Averages or norms that describe the typical development stages of children.
What fields was Gesell influential in?
He was a psychologist and paediatrician, and he remains influential in understanding child development.
What did Gesell contribute to child development research?
He was the first person to use observation of children to understand their development.
What are some positive views of Gesell’s theory?
• He determined typical norms of development that are still used today.
• He used advanced methodology to observe the behaviour of large numbers of children.
What are some criticisms of Gesell’s theory?
• He did not consider the influence of individual or cultural differences in children.
• He believed that the “norms” of development he described were desirable.
