Theories of Human Development Latest Update Graded A+

Theories of Human Development Latest Update Graded A+ Growth Increase in physical size of whole or any of its parts or increase in number and size of cells. Maturation Change in complexity of body structures. Development Continuous, orderly series of conditions leading to activities and patterns of behavior; increase in function and complexity. Enhances survival Learning Changes in behavior due to maturation and experience Jean Piaget Developmental theorist that studied how children learn. 4 stages of development. Children learn by assimilation/accomodation Assimilation Interpreting one's new experience in terms of one's existing knowledge. Accomodation Changing a pre-existing mental idea in order to fit new information. Eg: A child may create a new idea to categorize truck after realizing trucks do not belong in the category of cars. Sensorimotor stage In Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities Object permanence The awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived. (sensorimotor stage) (just because I can't see mommy when she leaves the room doesn't mean mommy no longer exists) Preoperational stage In Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic. Egocentricism A child only sees the world from their point of view. (preoperational stage) Magical thinking Thinking based on assumptions that don't hold up to rational scrutiny (preoperational stage) Animism Attribute human/animal qualities to inanimate objects Concrete operational stage In Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events. Concept of time, fact from fantasy. Reflective reasoning Ability to understand mirrored ideas and equations. Concrete operational stage Formal operational stage In Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts. Can think symbolically, move to other-centered thinking, solve for hypotheses, understand logical consequences of behavior & time in far future Sigmund Freud Developmental theorist that studied psychosexual development; childhood experiences provied unconscious motivation for actions later in life. Oral stage Freud's first stage of personality development, from birth to about age 2, during which the instincts of infants are focused on the mouth as the primary pleasure center. Anal stage Freud's second stage of personality development (1-3 years) Anus is associated with pleasure. Toilet training can lead to fixation if not handled correctly. Has two outcomes- anal retentive (obsessions with cleanliness, perfection and control) and anal expulsive (messy, disorganized and dirty) Phallic stage Freud's third stage of personality development, from about age 4 through age 7, during which children obtain gratification primarily from the genitals. Latency stage Freud's fourth stage of psychosexual development where sexuality is repressed in the unconscious and children focus