Module 2 (Part One): Developmental Theories Flashcards
Define: DEVELOPMENT
Development: series of age-related stages that occur over the course of a lifespan in which capacities are developed building on those of the previous stage
4 Characteristics of development
Qualitative
Sequential
Irreversible
Universal
Historical Perspective: Notable Contributors
17th Century: John Locke
Emergence of Behaviourism
Idea that babies start as a ‘blank slate’
Define: Behaviourism
Theory that human and animal behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behaviour patterns.
Historical Perspective: Notable Contributors
18th century: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Emergence of Maturationism
Idea of innate morality and potential which need only protection and nurturing
Three stages of learning: 0-12 emotions/impulses, 12-16 reasoning, 16+ adulthood
Define: Maturationism
Growth and development are a natural/innate process, education passively supports growth.
Historical Perspective: Notable Contributors
19th century Charles Darwin
Emergence of Darwinism
encouraged observational methods
explosion of use of science in ‘social sciences’
Historical Perspective: Notable Contributors
19th Century Adolphe Quetelet
quantitative information
“the average man” and the bell curve
Historical Perspective: Notable Contributors
20th century
Explosion of theories specific to children’s development developed from studying children with atypical behaviour
List the 5 Main Developmental Theories
Psychoanalytic Theories
Behavioural & Social Learning Theories
Biological Theories
Cognitive Theories
Systems Theories
Brief Overview: Psychoanalytic Theory
1/5 Main theories
Psychoanalytic Theory
Focus on formation of personality
Eriksson and Freud
Distinct stages, face conflicts between biological drive and social expectation
Brief Overview: Behavioural & Social Learning Theory (2/5 Main theories)
Behavioural Learning Theory
Importance of environment and nurturing in development
Learning occurs by conditioning
Language is a subset of all learned behaviours (NOT innate) vocalisations are reinforced
Social Learning Theory
Developed by Albert Bandura
Children learn by more than reinforcement: also learn through observation/imitation and modelling
driven by intrinsic reinforcement
Brief Overview: Biological Theory
3/5 Main theories
Biological Theory
Hereditary and innate biological processes govern growth
Maturationism: biology-governed/innate process with key period in development
Ethology: study of human behaviour and social organisation from a biological perspective.
Explain Key Ideas: Attachment Theory
Formation of attachment between child and caregiver can ensure infant’s success and survival
Key concepts: Circle of security, proximity maintenance, secure base, safe haven, separation distress
Describe the Circle of Security
The Circle of Security consists proximity maintenance secure base safe haven separation distress
Brief Overview: Cognitive Theory
4/5 Main theories
Cognitive Theories
Focus on HOW we learn (how the brain works and how this influences observable/external behaviours)
Main contributor: Jean Piaget
Includes Socio-cultural theory (Lev Vygotsky) and Information processing theory
Brief Overview: Systems Theory
5/5 Main theories
Systems Theory
Development is a result of complex interactions between influences/systems
Main Contributor Urie Bronfenbrenner
Explain Key Ideas: Sociocultural Theory
Socio-Cultural theories (Lev Vygotsky)
Child is an active learner but social learning precedes cognitive development,
Learn from the “MKO: more knowledgeable other,”
Zone of proximal development (what the learner can do with guidance) this is the key level at which you aim to pitch for teaching
List the five systems in Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory
Micro - setting in which they live: closest to the child; parents, friends, school neighbourhood (also biology)
Meso - connections between microsystems e.g. relations of experiences from family to friends
Exo - child does not have an active role in influence e.g. mother’s work
Macro, - cultural context/outer circle
Chrono - events over time in the child’s life e.g. drought, divorce, socio-historical circumstance
Ecological Systems Theory
Define: MICROSYSTEM
setting in which they live: closest to the child; parents, friends, school neighbourhood (also biology)
Ecological Systems Theory
Define: MESOSYSTEM
Connections between microsystems e.g. relations of experiences from family to friends
Ecological Systems Theory
Define: EXOSYSTEM
child does not have an active role in influence e.g. mother’s work
Ecological Systems Theory
Define: MACROSYSTEM
cultural context/outer circle
Ecological Systems Theory
Define: CHRONOSYSTEM
events over time in the child’s life e.g. drought, divorce, socio-historical circumstance
