Comprehensive Psychology Theories: Development, Personality, and Learning

Albert Bandura

Social-cognitive theorist known for reciprocal determinism, observational learning, self-efficacy, and modelling.

Reciprocal determinism

Personality shaped by continuous interaction between person, behaviour, and environment.

Carl Rogers

Humanistic theorist and founder of person-centred therapy, emphasizing self-actualisation and unconditional positive regard.

Hierarchy of needs

Proposed by Abraham Maslow, it includes physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualisation, and transcendence.

Hans Eysenck

Trait/biological theorist known for the PEN model: Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism.

George Kelly

Personal construct theorist who viewed people as 'scientists' forming hypotheses about the world.

Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalytic theorist known for the tripartite model of personality: id, ego, and superego.

Erik Erikson

Psychosocial theorist who proposed eight lifespan stages, each defined by a central conflict.

B.F. Skinner

Radical behaviourist known for operant conditioning and the Skinner box.

Gordon Allport

Trait theorist who identified three levels of traits: cardinal, central, and secondary.

Jean Piaget

Cognitive development theorist known for the stage theory of cognitive development.

Lev Vygotsky

Sociocultural theorist emphasizing the role of social interaction in cognitive development.

John Bowlby

Attachment theorist known for the concept of internal working models and secure base.

Mary Ainsworth

Developed the Strange Situation classification system for measuring attachment styles.

Noam Chomsky

Nativist theorist who proposed the Language Acquisition Device and Universal Grammar.

Michael Tomasello

Interactionist who argued that cognitive and social learning mechanisms explain language acquisition.

Suomi & Harlow (1972)

Studied the effects of monkey isolation, finding that longer isolation leads to persistent social deficits.

Goldfarb (1945)

Conducted an orphanage study showing that early placement in foster care leads to better outcomes.

Rutter et al. — English/Romanian Adoption Study (1998)

Found that Romanian orphans adopted before 6 months showed better outcomes than those adopted later.

Head Start Program (USA, 1964)

An enrichment program for at-risk children that produced immediate cognitive gains.

Ramey & Ramey — Abecedarian Project (2004)

A randomized controlled trial showing that high-quality early education leads to durable positive outcomes.

Walter Mischel — Marshmallow Test (1972)

Classic study on delayed gratification showing that children who waited had better life outcomes.

Watson & Rayner — Little Albert (1920)

Conditioned fear in a child, demonstrating classical conditioning in humans with ethical criticisms.