Lifespan Lecture 2

Developmental Theory

A framework for explaining patterns and problems of development; systematic statement of principles and generalizations

Five developmental theories

Psychoanalytic

behaviorism

cognitive

sociocultural

evolutionary

psychoanalytic theory

irrational, unconscious drives and motives underlie human development

emphasizes the importance of early childhood

Sigmund Freud’s views

five (four) psychosexual stages

each stage has its own potential conflicts between child and parent

personality and life long patterns of behaviors are influenced by how one experiences and resolves the conflicts

sexual interest and pleasure are focused on a particular part of the body at each age

Erik Erikson’s views

eight developmental stages

each stage is characterized by a particular challenge, or developmental crisis

Social settings, family, and cultural forces powerfully influence gene expression and determine readiness to meet each crisis

stages are life long

Behaviorism

John B watson

Ivan Pavlovv

BF Skinner

Albert Bandura

proposition:

certain laws of behavior operate at every age

focuses in observable behavior

reinforcement impacts development environment shapes behavior

Behaviorism (definition)

The study of observable behavior, and the theory explaining the acquision of habits and competencies

Cognitive Theory

Major player:

• jean Piaget

proposition

• examines the structure and development of individuals thought processes and the effects of those processes on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Information processing

• focusses on the step by step processes of intellectual development

Piaget’s proposition

cognitive disequilibrium promotes search for knowledge through two complementary process

assimilation

interpreting new experiences to fit into old ideas or schemata

Accommodation

restructuring old ideas to include new experiences

Information processing theory

• newer version of cognitive theory

• an alternative to Piagetian approaches

seeks to identify and clarify ways to individuals

assumes that children have limited capacity for processing information

Quantitative advances in development

processing speed, efficiency, and capacity for handling information change with age

cognitive neuroscience approach

examines cognitive development from the perspective of brain processes

focuses on the neurological activity that underlies thinking, problem solving, and other cognitive behavior

Newer theories

• are multicultural and multi disciplinary

• are mostly closely tied to current view of science of human development

Sociocultural theory (definition)

human development results from the dynamic interaction between developing persons and their surrounding societies

Sociocultural theory

lev vygotsky

propositon:

= culture or social environment is integral to a person’s development

• stresses the role of guidance, support, and structure provided by cultures and societies

apprenticeship in thinking

Cognitive competencies result from social interactions between children and more skilled members of the community

guided participation

a skilled tutor or mentor engages the learner in joint activities\\

tutor draws learner into the zone of proximal development

Zone of proximal development

the range of skills that the child can exercise only with assistance

skills, knowledge, and concepts that learner is close to acquiring but cannot master without help

process of join construction

new knowledge obtained through mentoring

Evolutionary theory

center on shared impulses and common needs of all humanity

evolutionary development psychology

• applies principles of natural selection from Darwin and propose the concept of selective adaptation

Selective adaptation

process by which genes that enhance survival and reproductive ability are selected and over generations become more frequent

Controversial idea from evolutionary theory

women and men are selected for different patterns of mating and sexual behavior

The elective perspective

approach taken by most developmentalists

aspects of each of the various theories of development are selectively applied rather than adhering exclusively to one theory

helps guard against bias and facilitates open- mindedness to alternative explanations for complexity of human life