Theories of Development – Ch. 2 Adolescent/Adult Development Jan 21, 2009 Class #4.

Theories of Development – Ch. 2Theories of Development – Ch. 2

Adolescent/Adult DevelopmentAdolescent/Adult Development

Jan 21, 2009Jan 21, 2009Class #4Class #4

Developmental theoryDevelopmental theory A systematic statement of principles and A systematic statement of principles and

generalizations that provides a coherent generalizations that provides a coherent framework for studying developmentframework for studying development

What Theories DoWhat Theories Do

What Theories Do…What Theories Do…

Form basis for hypotheses that can be Form basis for hypotheses that can be tested by research studies tested by research studies

Formulating right question is more difficult Formulating right question is more difficult that finding right answersthat finding right answers

Generate discoveriesGenerate discoveries Offer insight and guidance by providing Offer insight and guidance by providing

coherent viewcoherent view

Types of TheoriesTypes of Theories

Grand theories:Grand theories: comprehensive, traditional theories comprehensive, traditional theories Originated in psychologyOriginated in psychology

Minitheories:Minitheories: theories that focus on specific area of theories that focus on specific area of developmentdevelopment originated more in sociology through study of social groups originated more in sociology through study of social groups

and family structuresand family structures Emergent theories:Emergent theories: new, comprehensive groupings new, comprehensive groupings

of minitheories of minitheories Multidisciplinary approach includes historic events and Multidisciplinary approach includes historic events and

genetic discoveriesgenetic discoveries

Grand TheoriesGrand Theories

Powerful framework for interpreting Powerful framework for interpreting and understanding change and and understanding change and development that applies to all development that applies to all individuals in all contexts, across all individuals in all contexts, across all contentscontents

Psychoanalytic theory interprets human Psychoanalytic theory interprets human development in terms of motives and development in terms of motives and drivesdrives

Unconscious influencesUnconscious influences

Psychoanalytic TheoryPsychoanalytic Theory

Classic Freudian SettingClassic Freudian Setting

What is the classic What is the classic setting?setting?

Why this set-up?Why this set-up?

Iceberg Theory of the MindIceberg Theory of the Mind

Our access to what goes on in our Our access to what goes on in our mind is very limitedmind is very limited

The majority is in our unawarenessThe majority is in our unawareness Freud felt nothing was accidental – Freud felt nothing was accidental –

dreams, slips of tongue, slips of pen, dreams, slips of tongue, slips of pen, etc.etc.

Felt first six years in ones life were Felt first six years in ones life were crucial to developmentcrucial to development

Phallic Stage is his most controversialPhallic Stage is his most controversial

Behaviorism is built on laws of Behaviorism is built on laws of behavior and processes by which behavior and processes by which behavior is learnedbehavior is learned Focus: ways we learn specific behaviors Focus: ways we learn specific behaviors

that can be described, analyzed, and that can be described, analyzed, and predicted with scientific accuracypredicted with scientific accuracy

BehaviorismBehaviorism

Never trust anyone over Never trust anyone over 30…30…

Poor “Little Albert” Poor “Little Albert” conditioned to conditioned to lifelong phobia???lifelong phobia???

Maybe never Maybe never enjoyed enjoyed Christmas???Christmas???

One only can One only can wonder…wonder…

Give me a dozen healthy Give me a dozen healthy infants…infants…

Watson felt we were controlled by Watson felt we were controlled by our environmentour environment

Reminds me of 1980’s Reminds me of 1980’s movie…movie…

Early scene in Early scene in “Trading Places” “Trading Places” shows Murphy trying shows Murphy trying to pull off scam as to pull off scam as blind guy who can’t blind guy who can’t walk, etc.walk, etc.

But things change But things change when he and when he and Ackroyd’s Ackroyd’s environments are environments are switchedswitched

Classical Classical conditioningconditioning

Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov Process by which Process by which

a neutral a neutral stimulus become stimulus become associated with a associated with a meaningful meaningful stimulusstimulus

Laws of BehaviorLaws of Behavior

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning

B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Process by which a Process by which a

response is response is gradually learned gradually learned via reinforcement via reinforcement or punishmentor punishment

also called also called instrumental instrumental conditioningconditioning

Social LearningSocial Learning Extension of learning theory Extension of learning theory

that includes modeling which that includes modeling which involves people observing involves people observing behavior and patterning their behavior and patterning their own after itown after it

ModelingModeling process in which people process in which people

observe, then copy behaviorobserve, then copy behavior Alfred Bandura—most likely Alfred Bandura—most likely

to occur if model is admired to occur if model is admired or observer is inexperiencedor observer is inexperienced

self-efficacy motivates self-efficacy motivates people to change themselves people to change themselves and their contextsand their contexts

Focuses on the structure and Focuses on the structure and development of thought processes, development of thought processes, which shape perceptions, attitudes, which shape perceptions, attitudes, and actionsand actions

Cognitive TheoryCognitive Theory

Emergent theories arise from several Emergent theories arise from several accumulated minitheories and may be accumulated minitheories and may be the new systematic and the new systematic and comprehensive theories of the futurecomprehensive theories of the future

Emergent TheoriesEmergent Theories

Sociocultural TheorySociocultural Theory

Seeks to explain growth of individual Seeks to explain growth of individual knowledge, development, and knowledge, development, and competencies in terms of guidance, competencies in terms of guidance, support, and structure supplied by the support, and structure supplied by the societysociety Human development is the result of Human development is the result of

dynamic interaction of the developing dynamic interaction of the developing persons and their surrounding culturepersons and their surrounding culture

Guided participationGuided participation—tutor engages —tutor engages learner in joint activities, providing learner in joint activities, providing instruction and direct involvement in instruction and direct involvement in learninglearning

Apprenticeship in thinkingApprenticeship in thinking—mentor —mentor provides instruction and support provides instruction and support needed by noviceneeded by novice

Sociocultural TheorySociocultural Theory

Zone of proximal developmentZone of proximal development—range of —range of skills learner can perform with assistance skills learner can perform with assistance but not independentlybut not independently learner is drawn into learning by learner is drawn into learning by

teacherteacher Cultural variations: Basic principles are Cultural variations: Basic principles are

universal, but skills, challenges, and universal, but skills, challenges, and opportunities vary from culture to opportunities vary from culture to culture, depending on the values and culture, depending on the values and structures of the culture’s societystructures of the culture’s society

Sociocultural TheorySociocultural Theory

Epigenetic TheoryEpigenetic Theory Emphasizes the interaction between genes and Emphasizes the interaction between genes and

the environment—the newest developmental the environment—the newest developmental theory theory stresses that we have powerful instincts and stresses that we have powerful instincts and

abilities that arise from our biological abilities that arise from our biological heritage. Timing and pace of certain heritage. Timing and pace of certain developmental changes are genetically developmental changes are genetically guidedguided

performism—performism—everything is set in advance by everything is set in advance by genes and then is gradually manifested in the genes and then is gradually manifested in the course of maturationcourse of maturation

What Theories Can ContributeWhat Theories Can Contribute

Psychoanalytic theory has made us aware of Psychoanalytic theory has made us aware of importance of early childhood experiencesimportance of early childhood experiences

Behaviorism has shown effect of immediate Behaviorism has shown effect of immediate environment on learningenvironment on learning

Cognitive theory helps us understand how intellectual Cognitive theory helps us understand how intellectual process and thinking affect actions process and thinking affect actions

Sociocultural theory has reminded us that Sociocultural theory has reminded us that development is embedded in a rich and multifaceted development is embedded in a rich and multifaceted contextcontext

Epigenetic theory emphasizes interactions between Epigenetic theory emphasizes interactions between inherited forces and immediate contextsinherited forces and immediate contexts

Eclectic PerspectiveEclectic Perspective

This is the approach taken by most This is the approach taken by most developmentalists in which they developmentalists in which they apply aspects of each of the various apply aspects of each of the various theories rather than staying with just theories rather than staying with just oneone

The Nature-Nurture The Nature-Nurture ControversyControversy

Is it heredity or environment that Is it heredity or environment that shapes us?shapes us?