74 Questions
Who is associated with the psychodynamic approach to human development?
Freud
Which theory proposes that social interactions are key in child development?
Social constructivism
What is the main emphasis of the ecological approach to human development?
Environmental factors
Which theorist is associated with the idea that early experiences are critical in human development?
Bowlby
What is the main emphasis of the cognitive theory of human development?
Stages of cognitive development
Who is associated with the idea that innate factors are key in human development?
Chomsky
According to Bowlby's theory of attachment, what do infants with a secure attachment typically exhibit upon reunion with their parents?
Distress but are easily comforted
Which theory of personality development emphasizes crisis and resolution for each stage between biological and psychological needs?
Psychosocial theory
Who is associated with the development of psychoanalysis?
Sigmund Freud
What is a key assumption of the psychodynamic approach?
We can understand behavior through the unconscious mind
What type of attachment is characterized by infants showing distress upon separation but being easily comforted when the parents return?
Secure attachment
What type of attachment is characterized by infants showing minimal stress or no stress upon separation from their parents?
Avoidant attachment
Which theory suggests that early childhood experiences play a major part in the later development of a child's personality?
Psychodynamic theory
What is the name of the researcher who found that infants exhibit different attachment styles upon reunion with their parents?
Bowlby
What is a theory according to Skinner?
An attempt to discover order and show lawful relations between events
What is a key principle of a good theory?
It must be logical and evidence-based
Which of the following is NOT a main theoretical approach in child development?
Humanistic theory
What is the focus of child development?
Observation of what children can do or learn at different points
What is the sequence of events in child development?
Antecedent > Behavior > Consequence
What is the antecedent in the context of child development?
The event that happens immediately before a behavior
Why are theories valuable in child development?
Because they enable us to develop ideas or concepts about what children can do or learn
What is the purpose of evaluating theories in child development?
To compare theories and identify their similarities and differences
What is the primary goal of psychoanalysis therapy?
To release repressed emotions and experiences
What is the primary focus of the Zone of Proximal Development?
The difference between what a learner can do with and without assistance
According to Erikson, what is the basis of personality development?
The resolution of existential crises
Which theorist believed that direct social interaction is a better way to learn?
Vygotsky
What is the primary focus of the first five years of human development, according to the text?
Biological, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development
What is the main idea behind Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory?
The role of social environments in shaping human development
What is respondent behavior, according to Skinner?
A type of behavior that occurs automatically and reflexively
What is the term for the space between what a learner can do without assistance and what a learner can do with adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers?
Zone of Proximal Development
What is the purpose of punishment, according to Skinner's theory of learning?
To eliminate undesirable behavior
Which approach to human development emphasizes the importance of social environments?
Ecological Approach
What is the term for the process of providing support and guidance to help a learner learn new concepts and skills?
Scaffolding
What is the main idea behind Skinner's theory of learning?
Environment is the dominant factor in shaping behavior
What is the difference between operant behavior and respondent behavior, according to Skinner?
Operant behavior requires conscious control, while respondent behavior is automatic
What is the consequence of operant behavior, according to Skinner's theory of learning?
Its consequences determine whether it recurs in the future
What is the typical response of infants with an anxious-resistant attachment upon reunion with their parents?
They seem to seek comfort and attempt to punish the parents
What is the primary focus of psychoanalysis according to Freud?
Making the unconscious conscious thought and motivation
What is the key role of relationships with others in Erikson's psychosocial theory?
They are essential for understanding crisis and resolution in each stage of development
What is the characteristic of infants with an avoidant attachment?
They show minimal stress or no stress upon separation and ignore the parents
What is the assumption of the psychodynamic approach regarding early childhood experiences?
They play a major part in shaping personality even if it is buried in the unconscious
What is the main emphasis of the psychodynamic approach to human development?
Early childhood experiences and their impact on personality
What is the typical response of infants with a secure attachment upon reunion with their parents?
They show distress upon separation but are easily comforted
What is the theory of personality development that emphasizes crisis and resolution for each stage between biological and psychological needs?
Psychosocial theory
What is the primary goal of releasing repressed emotions and experiences in psychoanalysis therapy?
To bring about a change in behavior
What is the primary focus of the Zone of Proximal Development?
The space between what a learner can do without assistance and what a learner can do with adult guidance
According to Erikson, what is the basis of personality development?
Existential crises and their resolution
According to Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, what affects every facet of human life?
The environment you grow up in
What is the main difference between respondent behavior and operant behavior according to Skinner?
Respondent behavior is automatic and reflexive, while operant behavior is learned
What is the primary focus of the first five years of human development, according to the text?
Biological development, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development
What is the main difference between Vygotsky and Bruner's approaches to learning?
Vygotsky believed in direct social interaction, while Bruner believed in self-learning
What is the term for the process of providing support and guidance to help a learner learn new concepts and skills?
Scaffolding
What is the consequence of operant behavior, according to Skinner's theory of learning?
It is a result of reinforcement
What is the primary purpose of punishment, according to Skinner's theory of learning?
To eliminate an undesirable behavior
What occurs in the environment immediately before a behavior is emitted?
Antecedents
What is the key role of the social environment, according to Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory?
Influencing human development
What is the primary focus of John Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment?
The biological need for children to form attachments with others
What is the main idea behind Skinner's theory of learning?
That a person is first exposed to a stimulus, which elicits a response, and the response is then reinforced
What is the main idea behind Vygotsky's approach to learning?
Direct social interaction is a better way to learn
What is the focus of the psychodynamic approach to human development?
The release of repressed emotions and experiences
What type of people can influence a child's development, according to Bowlby's theory?
All of the above
What is an example of an antecedent in the context of walking behavior?
Creeping
What is the result of a child's innate need to attach to one main attachment figure?
Strong emotions when separated from the attachment figure
What is an example of a contextual or environmental factor that can influence behavior?
Physical changes, such as growth
What is the focus of John Bowlby's theory of attachment?
The biological need for children to form attachments with others
What is a consequence of a child's strong attachment to their parents or caregivers?
Strong emotions when separated from the attachment figure
What is the key idea behind Chomsky's theory of language acquisition?
Language acquisition is biologically determined and humans are born with linguistic information
What is the primary focus of Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
The nature of knowledge and how humans acquire it
According to Vygotsky's theory, what drives development and independence in humans?
Social interactions and environment
What is the name of the theory that proposes that humans develop new social and cognitive skills through interactions with older individuals?
Social Constructivism
What is the key idea behind Piaget's theory of cognitive development in terms of development progression?
Development progresses in stages
What is the role of the environment in Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
The environment plays an active role in development
What is the main idea behind Nativism in terms of language acquisition?
Language acquisition is biologically determined and humans are born with linguistic information
What is the key difference between Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories of cognitive development?
Piaget's theory focuses on innate factors, while Vygotsky's theory focuses on social interactions
Study Notes
Modern Theories of Child Development
- A theory is an attempt to discover order, to show that certain events stand in lawful relations to other events.
- A theory connects concepts and builds on observations to explain and predict behavior.
- Principles of theory: it must be logical, testable, evidence-based, and a set of ideas.
Main Theoretical Approaches
- Biological theory
- Psychodynamic theories
- Learning theories:
- Behaviourism
- Nativism
- Cognitive theories:
- Constructivism
- Social constructivism
- Ecological theory
Theories and Child Development
- Child development is based on observation of what children do and what happens in childhood (phenomena)
- Patterns of behavior are systematically observed:
- Antecedent (what comes before)
- Behavior (actual action, doing or behavior)
- Consequences (what happens as a result)
- The meanings we construct from reliable and valid observations can be applied to other children
Comparing Theories
- Biological approaches: Evolutionary theories of attachment (Bowlby)
- Psychodynamic approach (Freud, Erikson): Early experiences are critical
- Cognitive theory (Piaget): Development in stages
- Behaviorism (Skinner): Environment is key
- Nativism/mentalism (Chomsky): Innate factors are key
- Social constructivism (Vygotsky; Piaget): Social interactions are key
- Ecological approach (Bronfenbrenner): Activity is key in child development
Bowlby's Evolutionary Theory of Attachment
- Research on Bowlby's theory of attachment showed that infants react in one of three ways upon reunion with parents:
- Secure attachment: Distress upon separation, but seeking comfort and easily comforted
- Anxious-resistant attachment: Greater levels of distress, seeking comfort but punishing parents
- Avoidant attachment: No stress or minimal stress, ignoring or avoiding parents
The Psychodynamic Approach
- Psychoanalytic theory: Focus on unconscious mind and relationships with others
- Sigmund Freud: Psychosexual theory, 3 levels of consciousness, instincts enable us to survive
- Erik Erikson: Psychosocial theory, age-related stage theory of personality development from birth to old age
- Key assumptions: Early childhood experiences play a major part in later development, unconscious mind influences behavior
Learning Theories
- Behaviourism (Skinner): Environmental factors influence behavior, stimulus-response-reinforcement
- Operant behavior: Things that require our conscious control, consequences determine behavior
- Respondent behavior: Automatic and reflexive behavior, not learned
Vygotsky's Theory
- Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): The space between what a learner can do without assistance and what they can do with adult guidance
- Scaffolding: Bruner and Vygotsky's concept of providing support and guidance for learners
Ecological Approach
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory: The environment we grow up in affects every facet of our life
- Key role for the social environment in human development
- Bioecological model of human development
Behavioral Approach
- Antecedents are immediate environmental factors that occur before a behavior, influencing changes in behavior.
- Examples of antecedents include earlier observations, physical changes (e.g., growth), contextual or environmental factors.
- Antecedents of walking behavior: creeping, crawling, stepping, pulling up, and cruising.
Biological Approach
- John Bowlby's theory suggests that children are biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others for survival.
- Key points: biological predisposition, learning, critical periods, maternal deprivation, attachment types, maternal sensitivity hypothesis, influence on childcare.
Bowlby's Evolutionary Theory of Attachment
- Infants develop a strong attachment with their parents/carers and express strong emotions when separated.
- Upon reunion, infants react in one of three ways:
- Secure attachment: distress upon separation, seeking comfort, and easily comforted.
- Anxious-resistant attachment: greater distress, seeking comfort, and attempting to "punish" parents for leaving.
- Avoidant attachment: minimal stress upon separation, ignoring or actively avoiding parents upon reuniting.
Psychodynamic Approach
- Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson are associated with the psychodynamic theory.
- Key assumptions:
- 3 levels of consciousness
- We can understand behavior through the unconscious mind
- Instincts enable us to survive
- Early childhood experiences shape adult personality
- Psychoanalysis aims to release repressed emotions and experiences.
Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
- Erikson's theory focuses on relationships with others, crisis and resolution for each stage between biological and psychological needs.
- Key stages:
- Birth to 5 years: biological development, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development
- Resolution of existential crises: trust, autonomy, intimacy, individuality, integrity, and identity
Learning Theories (Behaviourism)
- B. F. Skinner's theory of learning: stimulus, response, reinforcement.
- Two types of behavior:
- Respondent behavior: automatic and reflexive responses
- Operant behavior: requires conscious control, influenced by consequences
Nativism and Chomsky
- Chomsky argues that children have an inborn faculty for language acquisition.
- Language is biologically determined, and children learn by hearing it without teaching.
Cognitive Theories
- Piaget's theory of cognitive development: comprehensive theory about the nature and development of human intelligence.
- Key points:
- Children actively construct knowledge through creating and modifying mental structures or schemas
- Development progresses in stages
Piaget's Developmental Stages
- No specific stages mentioned in the text.
Social Constructivism: Vygotsky
- Humans can only be understood within their social context.
- Social interactions drive development and independence.
- Key concepts:
- Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
- Scaffolding
Ecological Approach: Bronfenbrenner
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory explains the influence of social environments on human development.
- Key points:
- Environment affects every facet of life
- Integrative approach: bioecological model of human development
Learn about modern theories of child development, including what a theory is, how to evaluate them, and the most influential ones. Understand the importance of theories in child development.
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