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Exploring Theories and Themes in Child Development

Discover various theories (biological, psychodynamic, learning, cognitive-development, contextual) and key themes (nature-nurture, active-passive child) in child development research. Understand how children help shape their own growth and how development in different domains interconnects.

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Exploring Theories and Themes in Child Development

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  1. Chapter 1: The Science of Child Development • 1.1 Using This Book • 1.2 Theories of Child Development • 1.3 Themes in Child-Development Research

  2. 1.1 Using This Book • This module is not about children but about how to use this book • Read this module to understand how to use this book to learn about children’s development

  3. 1.2 Theories of Child Development • The Biological Perspective • The Psychodynamic Perspective • The Learning Perspective • Cognitive-Developmental Perspective • The Contextual Perspective • The Big Picture

  4. The Biological Perspective • Development is determined primarily by biological forces • In maturational theory, development reflects the natural unfolding of a pre-arranged biological plan • In ethological theory, many behaviors are viewed as adaptive because they have survival value 1.2 Theories of Child Development

  5. The Psychodynamic Perspective • Development is determined by how a child resolves conflicts at different ages • Freud’s components to personality -- id, ego, and superego • During psychosexual development, different parts of the body are the focus of pleasure • Erikson’s stages of psychosocial develop-ment are defined by a unique challenge 1.2 Theories of Child Development

  6. The Learning Perspective • Early learning theories emphasized the importance of experience in development • B.F. Skinner studied operant conditioning (reinforcement and punishment) • Other learning theorists suggested that children can learn by observing others • According to Bandura’s social cognitive theory, children’s sense of self-efficacy influences their behavior 1.2 Theories of Child Development

  7. The Cognitive-Developmental Perspective • Development reflects children’s efforts to understand the world • Jean Piaget developed a four-stage sequence that characterizes children’s changing understanding of the world • According to information-processing theory, development consists of increased efficiency in processing information 1.2 Theories of Child Development

  8. The Contextual Perspective • Development is determined by immediate and more distant environments, which typically influence each other • Lev Vygotsky believed that adults convey to children the beliefs, customs, and skills of their culture • Urie Bronfenbrenner believes that the developing child is embedded in a series of complex and interactive systems 1.2 Theories of Child Development

  9. Bronfenbrenner’s Theory

  10. The Big Picture • Classical developmental theories were very broad • Newer developmental theories tend to be narrower but more precise 1.2 Theories of Child Development

  11. 1.3 Themes in Child-Development Research • Early Development is Related to Later Development but Not Perfectly • Development is Always Jointly Influenced by Heredity and Environment • Children Help Determine Their Own Development • Development in Different Domains is Connected

  12. Early Development is Related to Later Development… • Known as the continuity-discontinuity issue • The continuous view: Children stay on the same path throughout development • The discontinuous view: Children can change paths at any point in development • Development is not completely rigid, nor completely flexible 1.3 Themes in Child-Development Research

  13. Development is Always Jointly Influenced by Heredity and Environment • Known as the nature-nurture issue • Current view: Nature and nurture interact with each other to influence development 1.3 Themes in Child-Development Research

  14. Children Help Determine Their Own Development • Known as the active-passive child issue • Children were once viewed as passive recipients of their environments • Today’s view: Children interpret their experiences and often influence the experiences that they have 1.3 Themes in Child-Development Research

  15. Development in Different Domains is Connected • Development in different domains of children’s lives is always connected • Cognitive development affects social development and vice versa 1.3 Themes in Child-Development Research

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