Transcript Document

Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Chapter 2
Theories of Development
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
The Nature of Developmental Theories
• Theory: A set of ideas proposed to describe and
explain certain phenomena
- Provides organization of facts and observations
- Guides collection of new facts and observations
• A good developmental theory should be
- Internally consistent
- Falsifiable: Hypotheses which can be tested
- Supported by data
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Assumptions About Human Nature
• Theories & the nature of human development
- Hobbes (1588-1697)
- Society must civilize inherently selfish, bad children
- Rousseau (1712-1778)
- Society should allow children to follow their naturally
good instincts
- Locke (1632-1704)
- “Tabula Rasa” or blank slate
- Children will be good/bad based on experiences
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Other Assumptions About Human Nature
• Nature/Nurture: Heredity or Environment
• Active or Passive Development
- Humans shape their lives
- Humans are products of forces beyond their control
• Continuity/Discontinuity: Stages or gradual change
- Quantitative Changes: Degree of trait or behavior
- Qualitative Changes: Transformational changes
• Universal or Context Specific Development
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
• Instincts and Unconscious Motivation
• Id, Ego, and Superego formed from psychic
energy (libido)
- Id represents human’s instinctual nature
- Ego is rational and objective
- Superego: Internalized moral standards
• Regular conflicts between them
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Freud’s Psychosexual Development
• Child moves through five stages
- Conflict between Id and Superego
- Conflict creates anxiety
- Ego defends w/ defense mechanisms
• Early experiences impact personality
- Oral: Optimistic & gullible v. hostile
- Anal: Fastidious & orderly v. messy
- Phallic: Flirty & promiscuous v. chaste
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Strengths and Weaknesses of Freud’s Theory
• Strengths
- Awareness of unconscious motivation
- Emphasized importance of early experience,
emotions
- Neo-Freudians have been influential
• Weaknesses
- Ambiguous, inconsistent, not testable (falsifiable)
- Not supported by research
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Erik Erikson
• Most influential Neo-Freudian, especially for
development
• 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 life
- Emphasized psychosocial conflicts
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
• Trust vs. Mistrust: responsive caregiver key
- Learn to trust caregiver to meet needs
• Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
- Learn to assert will and do for themselves
• Initiative vs. Guilt: Preschool
- Devising/carrying out plans without hurting others
• Industry vs. Inferiority: School-Age children
- Master social academic skills on par with others
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
• Identity vs. Role Confusion: Adolescence
- Establish social and vocational identities
• Intimacy vs. Isolation: Young Adult
- Establish intimate relations with others
• Generativity vs. Stagnation: Middle Age
- Feel productive and helping next generation
• Integrity vs. Despair: Older Adult
- View their life as meaningful to face death w/o regret
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Strengths and Weaknesses of Erikson
• Strengths
- Emphasis on rational and adaptive nature
- Interaction of biological and social influences
- Focus on identity crisis of adolescence still relevant
• Weaknesses
- Sometimes vague and difficult to test
- Does not explain how development comes about
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Piaget
• Intelligence = Ability to adapt to environment
• Constructivism: Understanding based on
experience
• Interaction of biology and environment leads to
each stage
- Sensorimotor (age 0-2)
- Preoperational (age 2-7)
- Concrete operations (age 7-11)
- Formal operations (age 12+)
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Piaget
• Sensorimotor (age 0-2)
- Use senses/motor beh to understand world
- Begin w/ reflexes but learn symbolic use of
language & can plan solutions mentally
• Preoperational (age 2-7)
- Language devleopment, pretend play, solve
problems mentally
- Not yet logical, are egocentric, fooled by perception
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Piaget
• Concrete operations (age 7-11)
- Logical operations, mentally classify/act on concrete
symbolized objects
- Solves practical problems via trial and error
• Formal operations (age 12+)
- Think abstractly, hypothetical, trace long-term
effects of beh
- Form hypotheses and test them empirically
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Cognitive-Developmental Theory
• Strengths
- Well accepted by developmentalists
- Well researched, mostly supported
- Influenced education and parenting
• Weaknesses
- Ignores motivation and emotion
- Stages not universal
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Contextual and Systems Theories
• Psychobiological, evolutionary theories
- Historical context
• Sociocultural Perspective – Vygotsky
- Cognitive development a social process
- Problem solving aided by dialogues
• The Bioecological Approach – Bronfenbrenner
- Reciprocal influence of person and environment
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Bronfenbrenner’s Systems Approach
• Microsystem: Immediate environment
• Mesosystem: Linkages between
microsystems
• Exosystem: Indirectly experienced linkages
• Macrosystem: Culture of systems
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Figure 2.4
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Carol K. Sigelman, Elizabeth A. Rider
Life-Span Human Development, 4th Edition
Chapter 2: Theories of Human Development
Bronfenbrenner
• Strengths
- Emphasis on context
• Weaknesses
- Partially formulated
- Too many generalizations
• Should be combined with stage theories
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