Psyc 2314 Lifespan Development

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Psyc 2314Lifespan Development

• Chapter 2
• Theories of Development

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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.

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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  have proven to be outdated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

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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.

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Evaluation of Grand Theories

• Too wide ranging
• Much less comprehensive and inclusive

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Minitheories

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 childs cultural context.

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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.

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Emergent Theories

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

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Epigenetic Systems Theory

• Emphasizes the interaction between genes and the
  environment.

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Theories Compared

• Psychoanalyticimportance of early childhood
  experiences and hidden dramas that influence
  daily life.
• Learningthe important effect of the immediate
  environment on behavior.
• Cognitivea greater understanding of how
  intellectual processes and thinking affect our
  behavior.

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Theories Compared

• Socioculturaldevelopment is embedded in a rich
  and multifaceted cultural context.
• Epigeneticemphasizes the inherited forces that
  affect each personand all humankindwithin
  particular contexts.

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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.