ECE 100 Midterm Review: Developmental Theories

Vocabulary flashcards covering key developmental theories, concepts, stages, and major theorists for ECE 100 midterm preparation.

Developmental theory

Statements that describe, predict, and explain behaviour.

Nature

The perspective that development is genetic and individuals are born that way.

Nurture

The perspective that development is environmental and individuals learn from everything around them.

Active Child

Child-initiated and child-led learning characterized by doing.

Passive Child

Adult-directed learning characterized by listening.

Discontinuous Development

Development that occurs in distinct stages during developmental leaps.

Continuous Development

Development that progresses in a smooth and steady manner.

Classical Conditioning

A behaviourist concept where repeating an action causes children to get used to it until it becomes a daily routine; initially tested on animals by Pavlov and extended to children by Thorndike & Watson.

Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner's theory involving positive reinforcement (rewarding good behaviour to encourage it) and negative reinforcement (discouraging behaviour).

Social Cognitive Learning Theory (Bandura)

Albert Bandura's theory that children learn by watching others and copying what they do.

Vicarious Reinforcement

Seeing someone else get rewarded for a behaviour, motivating you to do the same.

Maturationist Theory

Arnold Gesell's theory stating that children develop by themselves and become ready for skills on their own.

Constructivist Theory

Jean Piaget's theory stating that children construct understanding by interacting with the environment.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's first stage (0-4 years old) where children learn through senses and movement.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's second stage (2-7 years old) characterized by using words and pretend play, while struggling to see other people's viewpoints.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's third stage (7-11 years old) focused on thinking logically about real things.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's fourth stage (11-12 years old) involving reasoning about possibilities and asking 'What would happen?'.

Social Cognitive Theory (Vygotsky)

Lev Vygotsky's theory that children learn through interacting with adults and other children, first learning with help and then alone.

More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)

An adult or child who knows more about a specific task and provides help to the learner.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The gap between what a child can do independently and what they can do with help.

Psychoanalytical Theory

A theory explaining how personality develops through early childhood experiences, inner drives, and inner conflicts.

Oral Stage

Freud's first psychoanalytic stage (0-1 years old) where pleasure is focused through the mouth, such as sucking.

Anal Stage

Freud's second psychoanalytic stage (2-4 years old) focused on toilet training and controlling bowel movements.

Phallic Stage

Freud's third psychoanalytic stage (4-6 years old) involving awareness of genitals and unconscious attraction to the opposite sex.

Latency Stage

Freud's fourth psychoanalytic stage (6-12 years old) where sexual drives become less active and the focus shifts to school, hobbies, and friendships.

Genital Stage

Freud's final psychoanalytic stage starting with puberty, where sexual interests become a primary focus.

Infancy Stage (Erikson)

Erik Erikson's stage from birth to 1.5 years characterized by Trust vs. Mistrust, with Hope as the outcome.

Early Childhood Stage (Erikson)

Erik Erikson's stage from 1.5 to 3 years characterized by Autonomy vs. Shame doubt, with Will as the outcome.

Play Age Stage (Erikson)

Erik Erikson's stage from 3 to 5 years old characterized by Initiative vs. Guilt, with Purpose as the outcome.

Ecological Systems Theory

Urie Bronfenbrenner's theory stating that a child's development is influenced by their relationships and surroundings, including family, school, community, and culture.

Microsystem

The people and places the child directly interacts with.

Mesosystem

The connections between the child's different microsystems.

Exosystem

Settings in which the child does not directly participate, but which still affect them.

Macrosystem

The wider society's culture, beliefs, values, and laws.

Multiple Intelligences Theory

Howard Gardner's theory stating that people possess different distinct types of intelligences.

Linguistic Intelligence

Intelligence related to words and language.

Interpersonal Intelligence

Intelligence related to understanding other people's feelings.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

Intelligence related to understanding your own feelings.

Ethology

The study of animal behaviour, especially in natural environments, which can help explain human behaviour and how behaviours support survival.

Charles Darwin

Scientist who developed the theory of evolution through natural selection.

Attachment Theory

The theory that children form foundational bonds with caregivers.

John Bowlby

Attachment theorist who stated that separation or loss of a caregiver can significantly affect children.

Mary Ainsworth

Attachment theorist who posited that caregivers act as a secure base, providing comfort for children.