Child Development Theories and Theorists

Psychoanalytic TheoriesFocus on personality development and effects

of conscious and unconscious mind on behavior development

Most prominent theorists:○ Sigmund Freud○ Erik Erikson

Child Development Theories and TheoristsSigmund Freud (1856-1939)

○ The mind contains the id, ego, and superego which are all in constant conflict.

○ He believed personality developed in a series of psychosexual stages; sexual energy (libido) focused at each stage on a particular part of the body.

○ Trauma during any of the stages resulted in emotional problems in adulthood.

Child Development Theories and TheoristsFive Stages of Psychosexual Development

○ Oral Stage (0-2 years)The mouth is the focus of gratification.

○ Anal Stage (2-3 years)The excretion of bodily waste is the focus; toilet training occurs.

○ Phallic Stage (3-5 years)Pleasure is associated with the genitals. The key task is

identification with the same-sex parent.○ Latency Stage (5 years-puberty)

Sexual gratification becomes less important than exploration, play, and learning

○ Genital Stage (adolescence)The genitals again become the focus; the key task is formation of

mature sexual relationships.

Child Development Theories and TheoristsErik Erikson (1902-1994)

○ Psychosocial Theory

○ The child’s need for social approval is more pertinent to healthy development than mastery of sexual gratification urges.

○ He believed identity develops in a series of psychosocial stages across the life span.

Child Development Theories and TheoristsErikson’s Stages of Life

○ Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 years)Infants develop a fear or faith in the world depending upon the

quality of care they receive.○ Autonomy vs. Doubt (1-3 years)

Children develop self-control and assertion or self-doubt, depending upon the amount of praise or criticism they receive from adults.

○ Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years)Children make decisions that lead to feelings of initiative or

feelings of guilt, depending upon the level of discouragement they feel and the amount of criticism they receive.

Child Development Theories and TheoristsErikson’s Stages of Life, Cont.

○ Industry vs. Inferiority (puberty, 6-12 years)Children are expected to master skills; criticism of skills can

lead to feelings of self-doubt and inferiority.○ Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescence, 12-18

years)Adolescents are challenged to develop a personal identity

while still fitting in with peers; failure at this stage can result in identity confusion.

○ Intimacy vs. Isolation (early adulthood, 18-35 years)Individuals either experience true intimacy with a partner or

engage in behaviors that isolate themselves from others.

Child Development Theories and TheoristsErikson’s Stages of Life, Cont.

○ Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle age, 35-60 years)Middle-aged adults either attempt to hang on to the past

or move forward with a desire to contribute something to the next generation.

○ Integrity vs. Despair (later adulthood, 60 plus years)Older adults either look back on their lives with a sense

of satisfaction or a sense of despair.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Behavioral and Social Learning Theories

Focus on observable conditions in the environment and how they relate to observable behaviors

Most prominent theorists:○ Ivan Pavlov○ John Watson○ B. F. Skinner○ Albert Bandura

Child Development Theories and Theorists Ivan Pavlov

Discovered the theory of classical conditioning while experimenting with the salivating behavior of dogs.

Classical conditioning states that when a neutral stimulus previously not associated with a response is paired with a stimulus that already evokes that response, eventually the neutral stimulus will evoke the response on its own.

Child Development Theories and Theorists John Watson (1878-1958)

Used classical conditioning to study how children learn stimulus-response.

Famous for his demonstration where he used an 11-month-old child named Albert and conditioned him to be afraid of a white rat.

Explains the development of many fears.

Child Development Theories and Theorists B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)

Proposed the theory of operant conditioning; behavior is influenced by the consequences of actions.

Reinforcement (negative and positive) increases the chances of the behavior being repeated; punishment decreases the chances that a behavior will be repeated.

For example, when a child touches something hot, such as a stove, and feels pain, he or she learns to avoid touching the stove.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Albert Bandura (1925- )

Social Learning Theory

Proposed that children also learn by social learning; observing and imitating the behaviors of others.

Reinforcement and punishment help children to think about which behaviors to imitate.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Cognitive Theories

Emphasize the development of thinking; how children learn to think

Most prominent theorists○ Jean Piaget○ Lev Vygotsky

Child Development Theories and Theorists Jean Piaget (1896-1980)

Cognitive Developmental Theory

Proposed that children understand the world in cognitive structures called “mental schemes.”

Cognitive structures develop through four major stages or phases.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Piaget’s Cognitive Development Stages

Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years)○ Children develop knowledge about the relationship

between their bodies and external objects by experiencing the sensations associated with motor responses.

Preoperational Stage (2-6 years)○ Children develop the capability of representational

thought, the ability to use symbols and to picture things in his or her mind. Simple language skills also begin to develop during this time.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Piaget’s Cognitive Development Stages,

Cont.Concrete Operations Stage (6-12 years)

○ Children develop the ability to see from another point of view, to see relationships and events in two directions, to reason deductively, and to use conservation in their reasoning.

Formal Operations Stage (12 years-adulthood)○ Older children and adolescents develop the ability of

abstract and logical thought. They also begin to think of and test various alternatives in a hypothetical manner.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)

Sociocultural Theory

Emphasized how children adopt the thought structures represented in the language and culture that surround them.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Biological Theories

Focus on the biological and physical explanations of development.

Believe that patterns of development and human behavior are programmed before birth by genetic makeup.

Most Prominent Theorist○ Konrad Lorenz

Child Development Theories and Theorists Konrad Lorenz – (1903-1989)

Ethology

Examines the behaviors that help animals (including humans) compete and survive.

NeuropsychologyUses technology to observe brain and nervous

system structures and functions during thought.

Child Development Theories and Theorists Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Theory of Human Needs

Development is a result of meeting personal needs.

All people work to fulfill basic and higher-level needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Food, water, shelter, warmth, physical activity

Protection from harm or injury

Acceptance, warmth, affection, and

approval

Self-esteem, confidence,

respect

Realization of full potential

Physical needs

Safety and Security

Love and Belonging

Esteem

Self-Actualization