Theories-unit 1

Question 1

Name two theorists for intellectual development:

Answer 1

< Piaget- Cognitive development
< Chomsky- LAD

Question 2

Give a summary for both theorists:

Answer 2

Piaget- schema
< The schema is the idea of the assimilation of new information and ideas.
< The schema is a process which consists of equilibrium, disequilibrium and accommodation.
< Equilibrium: children understand the world based on experiences. (Experiences match schema)
< Disequilibrium: the existing schema is challenged by new information/experiences. (Green apples challenge the existing schema or idea of Red apples).
< Accommodation: children will accommodate the new information (accommodation) creating a new schema.

Piaget- Cognitive development:
< He conducted 4 stages of development that children pass through.
< Sensorimotor: 0-2yrs, where children learn and physically explore the environment using their senses. Pre-operational: 2-7yrs, where children control their environment using symbolic behaviours, drawings and words. Concrete operation: 7-11yrs, where children use practical resources to understand the world such as counters for mathematics. Formal operation: 11-18yrs, where young people have the capacity to abstract think and problem solve.
< Conservation experiment: water beakers. Showed how children under 7 cannot logically think, and see things from another point of view.

Chomsky:
< Suggested that children are born with a hypothetical tool in the brain known as the Language Acquisition Device.
< That allows infants to acquire and produce language.
< Chomsky’s LADA theory helps to explain how children develop languages and skills.
< He suggests that we are pre-programmed to develop in a certain way.
< He believes that our slates have already been written on.

Question 3

What were the strengths and criticisms for these theorists?

Answer 3

Piaget:
Strength’s-
< Piaget’s model of cognitive development has guided and directed education for many years.

Criticms-
< He didn’t use a wide range of samples when carrying out observations.
< He underestimated children’s developmental abilities.

Chomsky:
Strength-
< Chomsky’s LAD theory helped to explain how children develop language skills.
Criticms-
< Lacking scientific evidence
< Didn’t take into account individuals who have learning disabilities.
< Doesn’t explain why individuals with down syndrome have delayed speech/language.

Question 4

Name two theorists for emotional development:

Answer 4

< Bowlby
< Ainsworth

Question 5

Give a summary for both theorists:

Answer 5

Bowlby:
< Bonding is vital to infants, makes them want to stay close to their mothers, and increases their chances of survival in the open world.
< Naturally developed attachment behaviours: sucking/clinging/following/crying/smiling.
< He conducted a study by comparing Thieves-Non thieves.
< Emphasises that early-childhood attachments is what shapes our future behaviours and relationships.
< When we are born we are completely helpless and totally reliant on our parents. “WE ARE ONLY AS NEEDY AS OUR UNMET NEEDS”

Ainsworth:
< She observed how infants reacted when their mothers left them alone in a room with a stranger.
< This helped to identify the different attachment styles between a child and their mother.
< For example SENSITIVE MOTHERS, are more likely to pay attention to their child’s needs and respond appropriately to their feelings.
- Secure: aware/responsive
- Avoidant: unavailable
- Resistant: inconsistent

Question 6

Name two theorists which link to the NATURE vs NURTURE debate:

Answer 6

Gesell’s-maturation theory:
< He suggested that the development in a child’s body or behaviour was influenced by biological/genetical forces.
< He stated that children pass through the same orderly pattern of development.
< He carried out observations on children’s behaviours, which through this he determined their “average norms” which today we see as “Developmental milestones”.
< Piaget was a theorist who disagreed with Gesell’s concept of all children following the same patterns of development, and the fact that it is most influenced by biological forces.

Bandura:
< Based his theory on the belief, that learning happens through observing/imitating/modelling.
< Banduras “BOBO DOLL” observation, showed that children develop behaviours through observing, imitating and modelling the environment and others around them.
< His theory was flexible in explaining an individuals various ways of behaving and learning.

Question 7

What were the criticisms or strengths of these theorists?

Answer 7

Gesell:
Strength-
< Many health professionals use Gesells milstones.
< He used a wide/large number of children in his samples.

Criticisms-
< Piaget disagreed, not all children follow the same pattern of development. And development is not solely influenced by biological/psychological forces. Its by both internal and external factors.
< Didnt explain by individuals with genetical disease such as down syndrome have a delay in development.

Bandura:
< Situation used in his observation wasnt very true to life.