Transcript Psyc 2314 Lifespan Development

Psyc 2314
Lifespan Development
Chapter 2
Theories of Development
Developmental theory
• A systematic set of principles and
generalizations that explains development,
generates hypotheses, and provides a
framework of ideas that (a) permit a broad
and coherent view of the complex
influences on development, (b) form the
basis for new testable hypotheses about
behavior, and (c) provide a summary of our
current knowledge about development.
Grand theories
• Offers a comprehensive view of
development but have proven to be outdated
– Psychoanalytic
– Psychosocial development
– Learning: classical conditioning, operant
conditioning, and social learning
– Cognitive
Evaluation of Grand Theories
• Many psychoanalytic ideas are widely
accepted today
• Learning theory emphasizes the variability
and plasticity of adult development
• Cognitive theory has revolutionized
research by focusing attention on active
mental processes, not inborn instincts or
past reinforcements.
Evaluation of Grand Theories
• Too wide ranging
• Much less comprehensive and inclusive
Minitheories
• Explain a specific area of development but
not as general and comprehensive as grand
theories
Emergent Theories
• New comprehensive, formulated within the
past 30 years, that bring together
information from many disciplines but are
not yet a coherent, comprehensive whole.
Emergent Theories
• Sociocultural theory (Lev Vygotsky)
– Seeks to explain individual knowledge,
development, and competencies in terms of the
guidance, support, and structure provided by
the broader cultural context.
– Focuses on the dynamic interaction between
developing persons and their surrounding
culture.
Emergent Theories
• Guided participation
– A learning process in which an individual
learns through social interaction with a “tutor”
who offers assistance, structures opportunities,
model strategies, and provides explicit
instruction as needed.
Emergent Theories
• Cultural variations
– Skills, challenges, and opportunities involved in
human development vary, depending on the
values and structures of the society in question.
In order to understand developmental processes
in different cultures, it is essential to understand
the values and beliefs of the culture, how they
affect children, and how particular
competencies fit into the child’s cultural
context.
Emergent Theories
• Zone of proximal development
– The range of skills, knowledge, and
understanding an individual cannot yet perform
or comprehend on his or her own but could
master with guidance; this is the arena where
learning occurs.
Emergent Theories
• Criticized for overlooking developmental
processes that are not primarily social in
nature.
Epigenetic Systems Theory
• Emphasizes the interaction between genes
and the environment.
Theories Compared
• Psychoanalytic—importance of early
childhood experiences and “hidden dramas”
that influence daily life.
• Learning—the important effect of the
immediate environment on behavior.
• Cognitive—a greater understanding of how
intellectual processes and thinking affect
our behavior.
Theories Compared
• Sociocultural—development is embedded in
a rich and multifaceted cultural context.
• Epigenetic—emphasizes the inherited
forces that affect each person—and all
humankind—within particular contexts.
Eclectic Perspective
• A perspective whose adherents choose what
seem to be the best, or most useful,
elements from the various theories, instead
of adhering to only a single perspective.