Developmental Theories

Erikson: Psychosocial Development

  • Trust vs. Mistrust (Birth to 1 Year)

    • Caregivers meet infants' basic needs through feeding, holding, and talking, fostering trust.
    • Infants learn they are separate beings from caregivers, developing tolerance for frustration.

  • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1 to 3 Years)

    • Children assert independence in activities; success leads to autonomy.

  • Initiative vs. Guilt (3 to 6 Years)

    • Preschoolers initiate activities; increased initiative correlates with higher self-esteem.

  • Industry vs. Inferiority (6 to 12 Years)

    • School-age children develop sense of competence and pride through achievements.

  • Identity vs. Role Confusion (12 to 18 Years)

    • Adolescents explore personal identity and values, leading to self-definition or confusion.

Piaget: Cognitive Development

  • Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 Years)

    • Use reflexes, gain motor control, recognize familiar objects and sounds.
    • Develop object permanence (full understanding by 8 months).
    • Actions are purposeful (e.g., shaking a rattle).

  • Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 Years)

    • Develop symbolic thought through pretend play.
    • Egocentric thinking and magical thinking prevalent.

  • Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 Years)

    • Begin to understand other perspectives and logical thinking.
    • Concept of conservation develops (quantity remains the same despite changes in shape).

  • Formal Operational Stage (11 to 15 Years)

    • Engage in abstract thought and deductive reasoning.

Freud: Psychosexual Development

  • Oral Stage (Birth to 1 Year)

    • Pleasure centers on feeding and oral activities.

  • Phallic Stage (3 to 6 Years)

    • Oedipal and Electra complexes develop; children identify with same-sex parent.

  • Latency Stage (6 to 12 Years)

    • Sexual feelings dormant; focus shifts to socialization and skills development.

  • Genital Stage (12 to 18 Years)

    • Development of mature sexual relationships and interests.

Kohlberg: Moral Development

  • Preconventional Level (up to 9 Years)

    • Morality based on consequences (punishment vs. reward).

  • Conventional Level (9 to 12 Years)

    • Focus on being a good person and maintaining social order.

  • Postconventional Level (12 Years and Up)

    • Morality defined by personal principles and ethics; understanding universal moral principles.

Summary of Developmental Theories

Erikson's Stages
  1. Trust vs. Mistrust (birth-1 year)
  2. Autonomy vs. Shame (1-3 years)
  3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years)
  4. Industry vs. Inferiority (6-12 years)
  5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (12-18 years)
Piaget's Cognitive Stages
  1. Sensorimotor (birth-2 years)
  2. Preoperational (2-7 years)
  3. Concrete Operational (7-11 years)
  4. Formal Operational (11-15 years)
Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Stages
  1. Preconventional (premoral)
    • Punishment and obedience orientation
  2. Conventional
    • Good-boy/nice-girl orientation, Law-and-order orientation
  3. Postconventional
    • Social-contract orientation, Universal ethical principles.