Transcript Theories of Psychosocial Development

Theories of Psychosocial Development
Organismic model
“nature”
maturation
genetic blueprint
individual seen as active
Mechanistic model
“nurture”
environment
learning
Contextual model
“nature x nurture”
ecological models
The Ecology of Human Development
•
Bronfenbrenner: Bioecological Model
– How nature and nurture interact to produce
development
• The biological, psychological, person
• Four environmental systems
– Microsystem: family
– Mesosystem: interaction among microsystems
– Exosystem: settings one step removed
– Macrosystem: culture
Ages and Stages: The Psychoanalytic Tradition
• Freud: stages of psychosexual
development accomplished during
childhood
• Jung: first to look at adult development;
individuation
• Erikson: stages of psychosocial
development; first truly life-span theory
Erik Erikson
• Most influential neo-Freudian
• Some differences with Freud
– Less emphasis on sexual urges
– More emphasis on rational ego
– More positive and adaptive view of
human nature
– Believed development continues
through adulthood
Extensions of Erikson
• Butler- Life review
• Kotre- Four types of generativity
biological
parental
technical
cultural
Levinson’s Seasons of A Man’s Life
Life cycle divided into developmental eras
Cross-era transitions
last about 5 years
represent turning points
Developmental periods
stable periods- make key choices
transition periods- reassess choices
major areas of choice- life structure
Evaluation of Stage Theory
• Criticisms:
overemphasize chronological age
lack clear markers
idealize normality
downplay sociohistorical context
Multiple Meanings of Age
• Neugarten’s Social Meaning of Age
age norms- socially defined standards
social age clock- what should be doing
off-time events- occur earlier/later
midcourse- an emerging stage
Trait Models McCrae& Costa’s Five Factor
Model of Personality
• Focuses on consistent differences, rather
than similarities
• Psychological traits
neuroticism
extraversion
openness
agreeableness
conscientiousness
Stability vs. Change in Adult Personality
• Core aspects of self less likely to change
• Change more likely during transition
periods
• Sociocultural/historical context impact
change