Developmental Theories

Developmental theories: Functionalism

* Sociological theory that looks into how society is organized to preform its tasks effectively. Students run more smoothly when each individual preforms their tasks

ex. when students are expected to attend class and answer questions and complete assignments

Developmental theories: System Theory

* sociological theory that looks at how groups of individuals interact as a system. Members learn how to learn and interact to maintain stability of the system, contains subsystem ie. husband and wife

Developmental theories: Symbolic interactionism

Psychological theory that looks into how individuals become based on perception of themselves and of others and used to explain that men and women have problems in their relationship because they give different meanings to actions and words

* Symbolic interactionism attempts to understand the pov of the actor to explain the actions

3 Basic concepts:

* self has 2 parts: "me" objective traits, "I"= personal feelings and self awareness

* Role taking: understantding others perspectives helps people predict actions and respond effectively

* communication: people interact successfully through shared language

Developmental theories: Exchange theory

A psycholical theory that looks at how individuals make choices withing role by weighing the costs and the benefits

Developmental theories: Life course approach

* aka the developmental thoery

* looks at behavior demonstrated by individuals or families at various stages in their lives

* Examines biological, psychological, social and cultural factos that influcence development in an interdisciplinary approch

* how we respond to internal and external stimuli

Developmental theories: conflict theory

An interdisciplinary sociological and politcal theory that looks at societies are held together by power, not by individuals and groups needing to depend on each other

Developmental theories: Feminist theory

Explains how sex and gender influence behavior while explaining inequalities between men and women from women's perspective. They argue that unequal power structures create social system that may not benefit everyone

Developmental theories: The ecological perspectives

Moderns psychological theory that looks at individuals and families as members of interlocking systems within society that influence each other

Developmental theories: Microsystem

each individual system

Developmental theories: Mesosystems

small groups of which the family is one and to which the individual belongs

Developmental theories: Exosystem

socio-economic environment, including external family, school

Developmental theories: Macrosystem

socio-cultural environment, society in which a person lives