3 Theories of Development that Impact Your Child

For many generations there was little understanding iabout child development. Many times, children were mistakenly viewed as miniature versions of adults and little research was devoted to the areas that address how they develop. In the early parts of the 20th-Century there began a new interest in the field of child development, spawning some creative and innovative ideas, but much of the focus was on abnormal behavior. As this area of study began to mature and expand, three grand theories (subsets) emerged. By better understanding these three theories of child development, we can tailor our classroom instruction and parenting around research-based concepts and needs.

Behaviorism

The most well known advocate for behaviorism was B.F. Skinner. Behaviorists believe that learning occurs through conditioning. They break this concept into two parts. The first part is classical conditioning, which was championed by Ivan Pavlov. This is like the child whose mouth water's every time they see a lollipop. The child associates the lollipop with the sweet taste of sugar, and though the child is not enjoying the candy, her body and mind respond positively. The use of rewards and positive reinforcement in education and in the family are an extension of this theory. In the second part, operant conditioning, the child learns that a particular behavior produces a particular consequence. The behavior produces either a positive or negative response or reinforcer. Certain behaviors can be reinforced and learned through operant conditioning. We can use this strategy to reinforce positive behavior and discourage negative. Behaviorism continues to have great influence in the realm of developmental theory and practice.

Cognitive Theory

Cognitive Theory focuses on the structure and development of thought processes and understanding. This theory has great influence on modern psychology and was pioneered by Jean Piaget. While researching in Paris, Piaget developed an interest in how children think. He noticed that young children's answers to questions were different than those of older children, not because they were less intelligent, but because they thought differently. The younger children simply had yet to develop to the next cognitive stage. Cognitive theory holds to the view that there are four major stages of cognitive development, and that the movement from one stage to the other is motivated by a need for cognitive balance. Each stage is evidenced by certain needs and behaviors. For example, children move from concrete to abstract thinking as they develop. According to cognitive theory, people build upon former stages or periods of development as they learn to think and process information differently. This process impacts several areas of life including relationships and self-fulfillment. According to Piaget, in our quest for balance, we develop and grow in our thinking, and ultimately in our personhood.

Psychoanalytic Theory

The founder of this approach to understanding human development is the Austrian physician, Sigmund Freud. Freud believed that development occurred in various psychosexual stages. The various stages in Freud's theory were rooted in human sexuality. The core is that human development is influenced by unconscious drives, urges, and motives that lie within the emotions. We are driven primarily by libido and hidden, deep-seated desires and impulses that manifest through behavior. Many of our issues may be the by-product of past experiences and unfulfilled need. A disciple of Freud named Erik Erikson further developed psychoanalytic theory to include the concept of developmental shifts and crisis. This theory promotes the view that early child development impacts behavior well into adulthood.

Learn More About Child Development

All three of these subsets have greatly impacted both the classroom and the family. Each theory provides a different vantage point on the human experience that have been helpful in allowing us to better understand and serve our children's needs. For additional information, check out these links.

* http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/

* http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/

SOURCES

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Larsen, William J. (1998), Essentials of human embryology. New York: Churchill
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