COMPARISON OF APPROACHES USING ISSUES AND DEBATES:

Views on development:

Psychodynamic approach: presents the most coherent theory of developemtn, tying concepts/processes to specific psychosexual stages determined by age, althought Freud saw little furhter development once a child enter genital stage

Cognitive Approach: stage theories from this approach have contributed to child development undestanding, for example as intellectual development , children form increasingly complex scemas as they grow older

Biological approach: Maturation is an important principle, as genetically determined changes influence psychological and behavioural characteristics

Humanistic psychology: see development of self as ongoing throughout life → childhood is particularly important period though, and a child’s relationship with parents important for unconditional positive regard.

Behaviourist approach and SLT: no coherent stage theories, seeing processes w/ learning as continous, at any age.

Nature vs nurture:

• The biological approach and the 2 learning approaches are the furthest apart, when talking about perspectives in nature vs nurture argument.

• Behaviourists: characterised babies as ‘blank slates’ at birth; all behaviour learned through assosciation, reinforcement contingencies, or (SLT) observation and imitation.