Psyc 2314 Lifespan Development

1. Psyc 2314Lifespan Development Chapter 2 Theories of Development

2. 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.

3. Grand theories • Offers a comprehensive view of development but have proven to be outdated • Psychoanalytic • Psychosocial development • Learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning • Cognitive

4. 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.

5. Evaluation of Grand Theories • Too wide ranging • Much less comprehensive and inclusive

6. Minitheories • Explain a specific area of development but not as general and comprehensive as grand theories

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Emergent Theories • Criticized for overlooking developmental processes that are not primarily social in nature.

13. Epigenetic Systems Theory • Emphasizes the interaction between genes and the environment.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.