Theories - PSYC

Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud

• Behavior is shaped by unconscious drives (things we’re not aware of).
  

• Early childhood stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) are important.
  

• If needs are not met during a stage, a person can develop a “fixation.”
  

Example: Oral stage (0–1 yr) → if needs not met, adult may overeat, smoke, or bite nails.

 Psychosocial Theory

• (Erikson)

• People go through 8 stages of development from infancy to old age.
  

• Each stage has a conflict that must be resolved for healthy growth.
  

• If conflict is resolved → positive trait develops. If not → problems may form.
  

Example: Infants face trust vs. mistrust → if caregivers meet needs, child learns trust; if not, mistrust develops.

Behaviorism (Learning Theory)

• Focuses only on observable behavior (not thoughts/feelings).
  

• Behavior is learned from the environment.
  

• Rewards and punishments shape what people do.
  

Example: Child throws tantrum → if parent gives candy, child learns tantrums get rewards.

Classical Conditioning

Pavlov

• Learning happens by association.
  

• A neutral thing becomes linked with something meaningful.
  

• Over time, the neutral thing triggers the same response.
  

Example: Pavlov’s dogs → Bell (neutral) paired with food → dogs salivate when hearing the bell.

Operant Conditioning

Skinner

• Behavior is shaped by consequences.
  

• Reward → increases behavior.
  

• Punishment → decreases behavior.
  

  • Example: Student gets praise for raising hand → keeps raising hand (positive reinforcement).
    

  • Example: Teen gets phone taken away after being rude → behavior decreases (negative punishment).
    
    

Cognitive Theory

• Piaget

  • Focuses on how thinking changes with age.

  • mental processes shape behavior
    

  • Children actively construct knowledge by interacting with the world.
    

  • 4 stages:
    

    • Sensorimotor (0–2): learn through senses & actions.
      

    • Preoperational (2–6): use symbols, but thinking is not logical yet.
      

    • Concrete operational (7–11): logical thinking about real things.
      

    • Formal operational (12+): abstract, hypothetical thinking.
      

  Example: A 4-year-old may think the taller glass has “more water” even if both glasses hold the same amount (centration).
  

Developmental theory

 Ideas that explain how and why people grow/change.

Reinforcement

A reward that increases behavior.

Social learning theory

Bandura

• learning by watching others

Modeling

Copying the behavior of someone else

Cognitive equilibrium

Mental balance (things make sense).

Assimilation

Fitting new info into old ideas.

Accommodation

 Changing old ideas to fit new info.

Information-processing theory

Mind works like a computer: input → process → output.

Sociocultural theory

Vygotsky

• development shaped by culture and mentors

Apprenticeship in thinking

Learning with guidance from skilled people.

Guided participation

 Mentor actively helps learner.

Zone of proximal development (ZPD)

 Skills learner almost knows, needs help to master.

Evolutionary theory

Behavior/emotions shaped by survival and reproduction needs.

Selective adaptation

Helpful traits passed to future generations.

Eclectic perspective

Using parts of many theories instead of one.

Biosocial Development

body + physical growth

• how the body grows and develops

  • motor skills

  • sleep

  • nutrition

    
    

Baby Observation Example of Biosocial Development

• Davi:

  • He can hold his head up → this shows a physical milestone for 3 months.

  • He moves legs and feet → gross motor development (big body movements).

  • He grasps objects with fingers and holds toes → fine motor development (small muscle movements).

He sleeps long hours at night → shows strong physical regulation compared to most infants.

Cognitive Development

thinking + learning

• how babies think, learn, and understand the world

• piaget calls this the sensorimotor stage (0-2 years)

Baby Observation Example of Cognitive Development

• He looks around and follows people with his eyes → shows attention and awareness.
  

• He makes noises and bubbles → early signs of language development.
  

• He reaches for objects → shows problem-solving and curiosity.
  

He is interested in lights, toys, and people → learning through senses.

Psychosocial Development

feelings + relationships

• emotions, trust, and relationships with others

• Erikson calls this the stage of trust vs mistrust

Baby Observation Example of Psychosocial Development

• He calms when mom picks him up → shows secure attachment (trust).
  

• He has a harder time with strangers → normal for early attachment.
  

He is bonding with his older brother and family → developing early social connections.

Temperament

personality style

• baby’s natural mood or style of reacting

Baby Observation Example of Temperament

• Mom says he is easy-going and not fussy, which shows a calm temperament.
  
  

• He does not have a “witching hour” (evening fussiness common in infants).
  
  

He startles at loud noises → normal reflex, not a negative temperament.

Putting it all together

• Biosocial = body (motor skills, sleep, growth)
  

• Cognitive = brain (thinking, learning, attention, language)
  

• Psychosocial = people (trust, emotions, attachment, relationships)
  

• Temperament = personality style (easy-going, fussy, calm, active)