Developmental Theories: Human Growth & Development

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards detailing major developmental theories, key concepts, theorists, and stage definitions from the lecture notes.

Developmental Theories

Comprehensive explanations about why people act and behave the way they do and how they change over time.

Empathy

The ability to be sensitive and understanding to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others.

Behaviorism Theories

Theories based on the belief that people's behavior is determined by forces in the environment that are beyond their control.

Humanistic Theories

Theories based on perspectives that emphasize looking at the whole individual and stress concepts such as free will, self-efficacy, and self-actualization.

Cognitive Theories

Ideas about how people process information, think, and learn, which are used to explain the differences between how people think over time.

Psychoanalytic Theories

Theories based on the belief that development is unconscious and analyze the symbolic meaning behind behaviors.

Ivan Pavlov (1849 - 1906)

Behaviorist who developed the theory of classical conditioning through a dog experiment involving a bell and food.

Classical Conditioning

Learning process demonstrated by Pavlov involving behaviors that are associated with an emotional response.

Albert Bandura (1925-2021)

Theorist who proposed the social cognitive theory and argued that people imitate other people's behaviors regardless of rewards or punishments.

Social Cognitive Theory

Bandura's theory proposing that children observe and imitate other people's behaviors.

B.F. Skinner (1904 – 1990)

Behaviorist responsible for the Operant Conditioning Theory using rat experiments with automatic feeders and levers.

Operant Conditioning Theory

Skinner's theory based on how positive and negative reinforcement influence behavior continuation.

Positive Reinforcement

A system where children receive a reward (such as stickers for good behavior) so they will continue an action.

Negative Reinforcement

A system where something undesirable is removed so that an individual will perform the desired action.

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Humanistic theorist who studied healthy personalities and proposed a hierarchy of basic growth needs.

Theory of Self-Actualization

Maslow's set of ideas about what people need to become and stay healthy through a hierarchy of primary physical and emotional growth needs.

Lawrence Kohlberg (1927 – 1987)

Theorist who studied how morals change as individuals age by interviewing children with ethical dilemmas like the Heinz Dilemma over 20 years.

Heinz Dilemma

An ethical dilemma scenario created by Kohlberg involving a man who stole an overpriced cancer drug to save his dying wife.

Howard Gardner (1943 - 82 years old)

Harvard professor responsible for the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which challenged the traditional view of a single general intelligence 'g'.

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Gardner's theory proposing that people possess distinct types of intelligences including spatial, intrapersonal, linguistic, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalist, logical-mathematical, existential, and interpersonal.

Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)

Theorist responsible for the Theory of Cognitive Development, focusing on four developmental stages in children.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's first cognitive stage (birth to 2 years) where infants use senses and motor skills to learn, aiming to achieve object permanence.

Object Permanence

Knowing that an object still exists even if it is hidden, achieved during Piaget's sensorimotor stage.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's second cognitive stage (2 – 7 years) where children think symbolically and are egocentric, lacking logical thinking.

Egocentric

Viewing the world in relation to oneself and assuming that everyone thinks the same way.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's third cognitive stage (7 – 11 years) where children begin thinking logically and understand the concept of conservation.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's fourth cognitive stage (12 years +) where individuals can think abstractly, hypothetically, and plan ahead with strategies.

Lev Vygotsky (1896 – 1934)

Cognitive theorist who argued that culture and social environment determine child thinking, emphasizing scaffolding, modeling, and ZPD.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky's term for the level at which a child can learn with help.

Scaffolding

Vygotsky's concept of providing help to a child until they grow confident.

Modeling

Vygotsky's concept of showing children how to perform tasks by demonstrating them.

Maria Montessori (1870-1952)

Educational theorist who advocated multi-aged grouping and three stages of learning: introduction, processing, and knowing.

Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939)

Pioneer in psychoanalytic theory who believed early life experiences affect a person for years to come.

Erik Erikson (1902 – 1944)

Psychoanalytic theorist who developed 8 life stages where individuals must resolve specific psychological or social conflicts.

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's infancy stage (birth to 1 year) where babies learn trust when caregivers consistently meet their physical and emotional needs.

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Erikson's toddler stage (1 to 3 years) where toddlers learn body control and skills to gain self-confidence, while lack of control causes shame and doubt.

Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson's early childhood stage (3 to 5 years) where children explore to take initiative, but criticism/punishment results in guilt.

Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson's middle childhood stage (6 through 12 years) where children build confidence through competence or develop feelings of inferiority when compared negatively.

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erikson's adolescence stage (13 through 18 years) where teens integrate multiple roles into a core identity or experience role confusion.

Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson's early adulthood stage (19 through 39 years) where forming intimate emotional relationships prevents psychological isolation.

Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation

Erikson's middle adulthood stage (40 through 65 years) where adults focus on guiding the next generation and helping others to avoid stagnation.

Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair

Erikson's older adulthood stage (66 years and older) where reflecting on life meaning creates integrity if satisfied, or despair if unfulfilled.