Themes and Theories of Human Development I.What is a developmental theory? A.Scientific theory B.Characteristics of a good theory 1.Parsimony 2.Falsifiability 3.Heuristic Value II.Questions and controversies in human development A.Assumptions about human nature 1.Original sin 2.Innate purity B.Nature versus nurture C.Activity versus passivity D.Continuity versus discontinuity 1.Stages of development 2.Qualitative/quantitative 3.Connectedness of development III.Theories of human development A.Psychoanalytic theory 1.Components of personality 2.Psychosexual development B.Learning theory 1.Processes of learning 2.Social learning theory C.Cognitive developmental theory D.Ethological theory E.Ecological theory 1.The importance of the natural environment 2.Environmental layers

What is a theory What is a theory in general? A set of concepts or propositions that describe and explain some aspect of experience. What is a scientific theory? A public pronouncement indicating what a scientist believes about his or her area specific area of investigation What are the characteristics of a good theory? Parsimony Concise, yet able to explain a wide range of phenomena Falsifiability Capable of making explicit predictions Heuristic value Can be applied to unknown situations and cases

Question and controversies about human development Assumptions about human nature Innate purity versus original sin Tabula rasa Nature versus nurture Activity versus passivity Continuity of development Stages of development Quantitative versus qualitative change Quantitative – changes in degree Qualitative – changes in kind Connectedness of development Similarity versus differences

Continuous versus Discontinuous Development Continuous Development

Continuous versus Discontinuous Development Discontinuous Development

Question and controversies about human development Assumptions about human nature Innate purity versus original sin Tabula rasa Nature versus nurture Activity versus passivity Continuity of development Stages of development Quantitative versus qualitative change Quantitative – changes in degree Qualitative – changes in kind Connectedness of development Similarity versus differences

Theories of child development Psychoanalytic viewpoint Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychosexual development Components of the personality The Id – legislator of the personality The Ego – executive of the personality The Superego – judicial branch of the personality The theory of psychosexual development The oral stage (birth – 1 year) The anal stage (1 – 3 years) The phallic stage (3 – 6 years) The Oedipus complex Latency period (6 – 12 years) The genital stage (12 years on) Evaluation of theory

Theories of child development Learning theory (Behaviorism) John B. Watson ( ) Classical conditioning Association of a neutral stimulus with a non-neutral stimulus Little Albert B. F. Skinner ( ) Operant conditioning Reinforcers Punishment

Theories of child development Learning theory (Behaviorism) Albert Bandura (1925- ) Modeling and observation learning Socio-cognitive theory Personal standards and self-efficacy Evaluation of learning theories Positive: Major impact on practices with child Behavior modification Negative Downplays importance of biological factors Too narrow view of environmental factors Underestimates children’s contributions to develop

Theories of child development Cognitive theories Jean Piaget ( ) Cognitive Developmental Theory Children as constructivists Organismic theorist Development occurred in stages Information-Processing Theory Concern with rigor and precision Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Brings together psychology, biology, neuroscience, and medicine New methods for analyzing brain activity Importance of brain plasticity

Theories of child development Ethological and evolutionary theory Niko TimbergenKonrad Lorenz ( ) ( ) Ethological Theory Imprinting Critical and sensitive periods Evolutionary Developmental Psychology Adaptive value of cognitive, social, and emotional competencies Interest in genetic, biological, and learning

Theories of child development Vygotsky & Bronfenbrenner Lev Vygosky ( ) Sociocultural theory Social interaction and cooperative dialogues Emphasis on culture and social experience Urie Bronfenbrenner ( ) Ecological systems theory Bioecological model Environmental layers

Ecological theory Environmental Layers