social development

Theories of Social Development

Learning Objectives

  • By the end of this module, you should:

    • Have a basic understanding of the 4 types of social development theories

    • Be able to recognize the importance of each theory and its contribution to different aspects of our understanding of social development

Psychoanalytic Theories

Freud's Theory of Psychosexual Development

  • Stages of Development:

    • ORAL (0-2 years)

    • Infants achieve gratification through oral activities such as feeding, thumb sucking, and babbling.

    • ANAL (2-3 years)

    • The child learns to respond to some demands of society, such as bowel and bladder control.

    • PHALLIC (3-7 years)

    • Children learn to recognize the differences between males and females and become aware of sexuality.

    • LATENCY (7-11 years)

    • The child continues development, but sexual urges are relatively quiet during this stage.

    • GENITAL (11 years to adulthood)

    • The growing adolescent sheds old dependencies and learns to deal maturely with the opposite sex.

Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

  • Stages of Development and Questions of Meaning:

    • Infancy (Trust vs. Mistrust): Can I trust others?

    • Childhood (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt): Am I independent?

    • Initiative vs. Guilt: Can I do what I want?

    • Industry vs. Inferiority: Am I capable and competent?

    • Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence): Do I know who I am?

    • Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood): Do I have close relationships?

    • Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood): Have I made a difference to others?

    • Integrity vs. Despair (Old Age): Has my life been meaningful?

Learning Theories

Behaviourism: Watson

  • Key Experiment: Little Albert Experiment

    • Investigated classical conditioning in infants.

  • Famous Quote by Watson:

    • “Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select—doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.” (JBW, “Behaviourism”, 1930)

Skinner’s Operant Conditioning

  • Principles:

    • Changing the frequency of behavior using principles of reinforcement and punishment.

  • Key Concepts:

    • Attention as a powerful reinforcer.

    • The power of intermittent reinforcement.

    • Behaviour Modification Therapy (B-Mod): Therapeutic application of operant conditioning principles to change behavior.

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

  • Key Study: Bobo Doll Study

    • Investigated observational learning and modeling behavior in children.

  • Concept of Reciprocal Determinism:

    • Child-environment influences operate in both directions; the child influences the environment, and the environment influences the child.

Theories of Social Cognition

  • Self-socialization:

    • Children play an active role in their own socialization through their choice of activities, friends, etc.

  • Niche Picking:

    • Children selecting environments that align with their interests and preferences.

  • Dweck’s Theory of Self-Attribution and Achievement Motivation:

    • Differentiates between mastery orientations and self-worth.

    • Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets:

    • Growth mindset: Belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

    • Fixed mindset: Belief that abilities are static and unchangeable.

Ecological Theories

Ethology

  • Study of behavior in relation to the evolutionary environment.

  • Critical/Sensitive Periods:

    • Times during development when specific skills or behaviors are most easily acquired (e.g., imprinting in animals).

Evolutionary Psychology

  • Application of Darwinian concepts of natural selection and adaptation to human development.

  • Example: The evolution of larger brains necessitating longer developmental periods in humans.

Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory

  • Conceptual Framework:

    • Examines multiple layers of environment that influence development, including:

    • Individual: Unique characteristics of the child.

    • Family: Attitudes about antisocial behaviors and drug use (ATOD).

    • School: Orderly school climate and consistent discipline, promoting positive behaviors and reducing truancy.

    • Community: Norms regarding ATOD use, cultural support systems, and community policies that discourage substance use.

  • Implications:

    • Family bonding, community support, and school connections combine to promote social competency and positive development.