Question

Theories of Development

Now that you have read and reviewed Chapter 2, take your learning a step further by testing your critical thinking skills on this scientific reasoning exercise.

Five major theories of human development are described, compared, and evaluated in Chapter 2 . These are the psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Erikson; the behaviorism of Pavlov and Skinner and the social learning theory of Bandura; epigenetic theory; Piaget's cognitive theory; and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. Although each theory is too restricted to account solely for the tremendous diversity in human development, each has made an important contribution to developmental psychology.

To help clarify your understanding of the major developmental theories, this exercise asks you to focus on the similar, contradictory, and complementary aspects of the five theories.

1. Which of the major developmental theories are stage theories? Which are not?

2. Which theories emphasize individual conscious organization of experience? unconscious urges? observable behavior? the interaction of nature and nurture?

3. Which theories emphasize the impact of early experience on development?

4. How does each theory view the child?

5. Which theories have been criticized for being too subjective? too mechanistic? too deterministic? for neglecting the role of biological maturation in guiding development?

Answer 1

1.psychoanlaytic, cognitive and sociocultural theory are stage theory. Behaviourist and universal are not.

2. Freud psychoanalytic theory emphasize unconscious urges. Bandra emphasize observable behaviour.

Answer 2

In this chapter we learned about how we develop from the moment of conception to death.  We learned about physical development, cognitive development, psycho-social and emotional development, and moral development.  For this discussion, you need to put all of that knowledge to use.

1.)  Think of a person you know of any age, from infant to the elderly, to whom you have easy access and is willing to interact with you.  Try to obtain as much information about that person in as many developmental domains as you can through observing them and interviewing them as appropriate.

2.)  Then, without identifying the specific person, other than their age, briefly summarize their development.  Comment on as many of the developmental theories as you can, i.e. what stage in Piaget's theory are they?  What stage of Erickson's theory?  What stage of Kohlberg's theory, etc.