THE DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH IN PSYCHOLOGY

1. THE DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH IN PSYCHOLOGY Developmental Key Concepts

2. Children are not born with the same abilities as an adult • Abilities must be part maturation, part learning • Can you think of examples? Developmental Key Concepts

3. Children LEARN certain behaviours • Two theories of learning • 1. Conditioning • 2. Social learning theory Developmental Key Concepts

4. Conditioning • Children will continue to do things if their behaviour is reinforced • Rewards & punishments Developmental Key Concepts

5. Social Learning Theory • Children’s role models have a big impact on their behaviour • We imitate what we see Developmental Key Concepts

6. Can a person’s behaviour be explained by early experiences? • What behaviours were reinforced? • (Parents can reinforce behaviours without realising it) Developmental Key Concepts

7. Can a person’s behaviour be explained by early experiences? • What type of people were their role models? • (role models can come from the home, neighbourhood, school or media) Developmental Key Concepts

8. Can a person’s behaviour be explained by early experiences? • What did they learn from watching TV or DVDs? • (what about the Internet or video games?) Developmental Key Concepts

9. CORE STUDY: BANDURA et al. (1961) • Is aggression learnt? • 3 groups of pre-schoolers from a creche • Watched an adult play with a 5ft “Bobo doll” • Scripted behaviour: aggressive, non-aggressive & control • Children observed with 3ft Bobo doll • Imitated verbal & physical aggression –especially boys! Developmental Key Concepts

10. Other theories - repression • Painful childhood experiences may be repressed but affect later thoughts/behaviour • Often associated with childhood abuse Developmental Key Concepts

11. Freudian Theories • Freud claims progression through the Oedipus/Electra Complex • We come to terms with being sexually attracted to our parents! • This process forms strong moral conscience (the “Superego”) Developmental Key Concepts

12. Can a person’s behaviour be explained by early experiences? • Did they get through their Oedipus Complex successfully? • (Elektra Complex for girls) Developmental Key Concepts

13. Can a person’s behaviour be explained by early experiences? • Has the child repressed memories that affect their behaviour? Developmental Key Concepts

14. Can a person’s behaviour be explained by early experiences? • Did the child suffer an early trauma that may be affecting the unconsciously for years afterwards? Developmental Key Concepts

15. Psychodynamic Theory • Freud’s ideas • Mind is at war with itself • Three layers of consciousness • Only aware of CONSCIOUS Developmental Key Concepts

16. The Oedipus Complex • Personality develops in PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES • Age 5 is crucial • Attraction to opposite sex parent • Hatred/fear of same sex parent • Named after Greek myth – Oedipus killed father and married mother Developmental Key Concepts

17. CORE STUDY: FREUD (1909) • Freud analysed “Little Hans”, 5yr old son of a friend • Hans was phobic of horses • Obsessed with his “widdler” • Hans’ father questioned the boy – boy expressed peculiar fantasies • Gradually, phobia faded • Was “horse” symbol for “father”? Hans was sexually jealous of his father, but felt anxiety over these feelings Developmental Key Concepts

18. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT • How does the WAY WE THINK change as we get older? • Do children think in the same way as adults? • Or are they “cognitive aliens” (Piaget) • Are there crucial ages? – developmental milestones • Does everyone develop in the same order? Developmental Key Concepts

19. Jean Piaget (1896-1980) • Most influential developmental psychologist • Swiss, child prodigy • Big idea: thinking develops in stages • Studied his own children! • Concluded: children don’t know less than adults… • … they just think differently Developmental Key Concepts

20. Conservation Studies 1 • Piaget showed child two rows of counters • Which has more? CHILD: “They’re the same” • Adults moves one row to spread counters out • Same question – CHILD: “That row has more” • Children cannot “rewind the tape” in their minds • CONSERVATION OF NUMBER Developmental Key Concepts

21. Conservation Studies 2 • Conservation of VOLUME • Two cups of water – both the same • Pour one cup into a tall, thin glass • Child thinks taller glass “has more” • Conservation of MASS • Roll dough out flat – looks bigger Developmental Key Concepts

22. Developmental Key Concepts

23. Stages of Development • Piaget argues we develop in STAGES • Children up to 7 are in PRE-OPERATIONAL STAGE • After 7, in CONCRETE OPERATIONAL STAGE • That’s why they start passing the conservation tests at age 7 • Pre-operational children cannot conserve… • … are perceptually egocentric • … rely on intuition not reason Developmental Key Concepts

24. CORE STUDY: SAMUEL & BRYANT (1983) • Wanted to test Piaget’s conclusions • Tested 250 children, aged 5, 6, 7 and 8 • Conservation of number, mass and volume • Standard (Piaget) procedure • 1-question (ask only after transformation) • Fixed array (control) – didn’t get to see objects pre-transformation… much harder • Children did better with 1-question • Suggests they CAN conserve pre-7 Developmental Key Concepts

25. NATURE VS NURTURE • Big debate in psychology & other social sciences • NATURE: most of our characteristics are INNATE (we’re born with them, they come out over time) • NURTURE: we LEARN characteristics from our environment, upbringing, etc • Developmental Psychology sits on the fence • It’s a bit of both Developmental Key Concepts

26. ETHNOCENTRISM • Most research on Western children… • Comfortable… Protected… Child-centred family • Child soldiers in Africa • Romanian orphans • Child labourers • ETHNOCENTRISM: treating our culture as “normal” or “right” Developmental Key Concepts