PYC2602_Child and Adolescent Development_Study notes and summary

PYC2602_CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT Unit 1: Basic concepts of child and adolescent development 1.6 Theories of development  Theories are essential for understanding children’s development because they provide the whyof development.  In child development, a theory is an organized set of ideas that is designed to explain and make predictions about development.  Function and advantages of theories: o A theory summarizes and explains the presently known facts o A theory aims to predict future behavior o A theory stimulates new research  5 major theoretical perspectives of child development: o biological o psychodynamic o learning o cognitive development o contextual perspectives 1.6.1 The biological perspective  The biological perspective emphasizes the role of heredity (especially genes), the nervous system (especially the brain) and the endocrine system (especially the hormones)  Maturational theory o Arnold Gesell o Child development reflects a specific and prearranged scheme or plan within the body o Theory was regarded to have little say because it did not take the environment into account  Ethological theory o Behaviors are adaptive and have survival value o A critical period is the stage in development when a specific type of learning can take place before or after the critical period, the same learning is difficult or even impossible o Konrad Lorenz (Nobel prize) – goslings followed whatever movement they saw first. Behavior manifestation by goslings is called imprinting.  Evolutionary theory