Developmental theories

What is a theory

a big, well supported idea that explains why people think, feel, and behave

Feuds psychosexual theory

development is driven by sexual desire and three structures

What are the three structures Feud is referring to

ID: pleasure (I want it now)

Ego: reality (what is practical)

Superego: conscience (what is right)

Stages of Feud’s theory

oral (0-1)

anal (1-3)

phallic (3-6)

latency (6-11)

genital (12+)

Erikon’s psychosocial theory

life comes in eight stages. in each stage we face a key social challenge. how we handle it shapes our personality

0-1

trust vs mistrust

core virtue: HOPE

will someone meet my needs

grows: consistent, sensitive caregiving

1-3

Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt

core virtue: will

I can do it myself

grow: Safe independence (toileting, feeding, choices)

3-6

initiative vs guilt

core virtue: purpose

I start things and pretend

encourage play/ideas without harsh overcontrol

6-12

industry vs inferiority

core virtue: competence

I can learn and produce

grow: effort focused feedback at shcool/skills

12-18

identity vs role confusion

core virtue: fidelity

what am I? what do I value

exploration with support (roles, groups, beliefs)

18-25/30

intimacy vs isolation

love

can I form close mutual bonds

capacity for committed relationships

30/40-64

generativity vs stagnation

care

am i contributing/giving back

parenting, mentoring, community, productivity

65+

integrity vs despair

wisdom

was my life meaningful

life review, acceptance

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory 

• development takes place within nested, interacting system, from the immediate environment to broad cultural patterns, a child’s growth can’t be understood in isolation

microsystem

• immediate,everyday environments 

  • ex. Family, school, peers, 

Mesosystem

• connections between Microsystems 

  • ex. How parental involvement in school affects classroom performance 

Exosystem

•  settings the child does not directly experience but still influence them 

  • ex. Parent’s workplace stress, mass media 

Macrosystem

•  broader cultural values, laws, customs

  • ex. Individualism vs. collectivism, religious traditions

Chronosystem

• time dimension (life transitions and historical change) 

  • ex. Covid

Cultural- developmental framework

• development always occurs within culture, and culture are diverse, dynamic and constantly changing 

• “one size fits all” stage models that often based on western, middle- class samples 

• Culture shapes developmental pathways 

• cultural developmental = culture as the ever present, dynamic backdrop shaping all development