Theoretical Perspectives Flashcards
What is a theory?
A set of interrelated statements that explain a phenomenon in a testable fashion.
What are psychoanalytic theories?
Theories holding that development depends primarily on the unconscious mind and is heavily couched in emotion.
Behavior is merely a surface characteristic, that it is important to analyze the symbolic meanings of behaviour, and that early experiences are important in development.
What is Sigmund Freud’s (1856-1939) developmental theory?
(Psychoanalytic theory)
Psychosexual development
What was Sigmund Freud’s (1856-1939) technique?
(Psychoanalytic theory)
Psychoanalysis
Key: Analysis of the psyche
What did psychosexual development theories assume?
People move through an unvarying, maturational-based sequence of stages, driven by libidinal forces, sexual and aggressive drives
(Newman & Newman, 2016).
What is Erik Erikson’s (1950, 1968) psychosocial theory?
(Psychoanalytic theory)
A psychoanalytic theory in which eight stages of psychosocial development unfold throughout the life span. Each stage consists of a unique developmental task that confronts individuals with a crisis that must be faced.
What is Lev Vygotsky’s (1896–1934) theory?
(Cognitive theory)
A sociocultural cognitive theory that emphasizes how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development
What are Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of psychosocial development?
Trust versus mistrust
Autonomy versus shame and doubt
Initiative versus guilt
Industry versus inferiority
Identity versus identity confusion
Intimacy versus isolation
Generativity versus stagnation
Integrity versus despair
What is trust vs mistrust?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
1st psychosocial stage (1y)
Trust = lifelong expectation that the world will be a good and pleasant place to live.
What is autonomy vs shame and doubt?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 2 (1-3y)
Autonomy = discovering independence
Shame/doubt = too much restraint and punishment
What is initiative versus guilt?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 3 (4-6y)
Initiative = face new challenges requiring active, purposeful, responsible behaviour
Guilt = feeling irresponsible and anxious
What is industry versus inferiority?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 4 (primary)
Industry = Knowledge and intellect
Inferiority = Feeling incompetent and unproductive
What is identity versus confusion?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 5 (adolescence)
Identity = Positive/healthy
Confusion = Confused Identity
What is intimacy versus isolation?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 6 (early adulthood)
Intimacy = Romantic partners, friendships
What is generativity versus stagnation?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 7 (middle adulthood)
Generativity = helping younger generation to develop
Stagnation = Having done nothing to help the next generation
What is integrity versus despair?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
Stage 8 (late adulthood)
Integrity = A life well spent
Despair = Doubt, gloom
What is a psychosocial crisis?
(Erik Erikson’s Theory)
When a person must adjust to the demands of the social environment at a particular stage of development. The process produces a state of tension that must be reduced before the person can move on to the next stage.
What is Jean Piaget’s (1896, 1980) theory?
Cognitive theory.
The theory that children construct their understanding of the world and go through four stages of cognitive development.
What are Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development?
Sensorimotor (0-2y), preoperational (2-7y), concrete operational (7-11y), formal operational (11-adulthood)
What is the sensorimotor piagetian stage?
(Piaget’s theory)
(0-2y)
Coordinating experiences (seeing/hearing) with physical, motor actions
key: sensory - motor
What is the concrete operational piagetian stage?
(Piaget’s theory)
(7-11y)
Children can perform operations that involve objects, and they can reason logically about specific or concrete examples
Cannot complete abstract, advanced equations
key: sensory - motor
What is the formal operational piagetian stage?
(Piaget’s cognitive theory)
(11-15y - adulthood)
Individuals move beyond concrete experiences and think in abstract and more logical terms
key: sensory - motor
What is the preoperational piagetian stage?
(Piaget’s cognitive theory)
(2-7y)
Can represent the world with words, images and drawings.
Cannot perform operations.
What are operations?
(Piaget’s cognitive theory)
Internalized mental actions that allow children to do mentally what they previously could only do physically.
What is the Information-Processing Theory?
A theory emphasizing that individuals manipulate information, monitor it, and strategize about it. The processes of memory and thinking are central.
Is a continuous process involving small quantitative, rather than large qualitative changes.
(Gordon & others, 2020).
What is a social constructivist approach?
(Vygotsky’s Theory)
A view of cognitive development that emphasizes the social contexts of learning and the principle that knowledge is mutually built and constructed with tools provided by their society.
What is the zone of proximal development (ZPD)?
(Vygotsky’s Theory)
Vygotsky’s term for the zone between mastered tasks and tasks that are too difficult for children to master alone but can be mastered with assistance.
What are some factors that may influence ZPD in a child’s learning and development?
(Vygotsky’s Theory)
Better emotion regulation, secure attachment, absence of maternal depression, and child compliance.
What is scaffolding?
(Vygotsky’s Theory)
Adjusting the level of support or guidance to fit the child’s current performance (Daniels, 2017).