Overview of Theories of Child Development

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Overview of Theories of Child Development

• Dorothy Stubbe, M.D.
• Yale Child Study Center

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Goals and Objectives

1. To review some of the major theories and concepts
   of normal human development
2. To highlight the utility and limitations of
   developmental stage theories
3. To utilize vignettes of a normal child to
   highlight key concepts in child development

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Outline

• Historical Context of views of human development
• Developmental Issues
• Three Theories of Child Development
• Psychoanalytic
• Cognitive
• Behavioral

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Influence of Life Stress on Depression
Moderation by a Polymorphism in the 5-HTT Gene
Caspi et al, Science 2003
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3. Early vs. Late Influences
Goodness of Fit
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Behavioral Learning Theories

• Classical Conditioning
• Pavlov
• Watson fear reaction in little Albert
• John Wolpe and systematic desensitization
• Operant Conditioning
• Thorndike and Law of Effect
• BF Skinner and Behaviorism

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Classical Conditioning

• Classical conditioning in practice
• Example fear of doctors after vaccination
• Treatments
• Extinction (systematic desensitization)
• Treatments of fears and phobias

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Operant Conditioning

• Reinforcements
• Positive
• Negative
• Punishment
• Clinical Relevance
• Sticker charts and positive reinforcements
• Behavior plans
• Parent management training
• Biofeedback
• Job satisfaction

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Important Theorists

• Psychodynamic
• Sigmund Freud psychosexual stages
• Erik Erikson epigenic model of developmental
  stages throughout life
• Anna Freud ego psychology and defense mechanisms

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Important Theorists

• Object relations theory
• Winnicott good enough mother and transitional
  object
• John Bowlby attachment theory
• Margaret Mahler separation and individuation and
  rapprochement crisis
• Daniel Stern Interpersonal World of the Infant
  and 4 senses of self (Emergent, Core, Subjective
  and Verbal). Cognitive-emotional-and internal
  development are intertwined

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Learning Objectives Review

1. How may we advance from the nature-nurture
   controversy to a deeper understanding of child
   development?
2. How may understanding three major schools of
   thought on human development inform our work in
   child and adolescent psychiatry?
3. Which theories of human development may be most
   helpful in psychoeducation of a parent on
   appropriate discipline techniques?