, PYC2612 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 - DUE March 2026
Question 1
John Locke believed that a child is born as a “blank slate” (tabula rasa), meaning
that a child has no inborn ideas or fixed character at birth. According to him, all
knowledge, behaviour, and personality develop through experience and
interaction with the environment.
Locke argued that a child’s development is strongly influenced by factors such as
education, family upbringing, social surroundings, and moral guidance. A positive,
supportive, and stimulating environment helps a child develop good character,
intelligence, and discipline. In contrast, a negative or neglectful environment may
lead to poor behaviour and weak moral values.
Therefore, Locke emphasised that parents, teachers, and society have a major
responsibility to create a nurturing environment, as this plays a crucial role in
shaping a child’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development.
Question 2
The first biological theory proposed by Arnold Gesell is known as the
Maturational Theory of Development.
According to this theory, a child’s growth and development are mainly
determined by biological factors and genetic inheritance rather than by the
environment. Gesell believed that children develop according to a natural, fixed
timetable that is controlled by their biological maturation.
He argued that skills such as sitting, walking, talking, and thinking emerge
automatically when the child’s nervous system and body are ready. For example,
a child will begin to walk when their muscles and brain have matured enough, not
simply because they are trained.
Question 1
John Locke believed that a child is born as a “blank slate” (tabula rasa), meaning
that a child has no inborn ideas or fixed character at birth. According to him, all
knowledge, behaviour, and personality develop through experience and
interaction with the environment.
Locke argued that a child’s development is strongly influenced by factors such as
education, family upbringing, social surroundings, and moral guidance. A positive,
supportive, and stimulating environment helps a child develop good character,
intelligence, and discipline. In contrast, a negative or neglectful environment may
lead to poor behaviour and weak moral values.
Therefore, Locke emphasised that parents, teachers, and society have a major
responsibility to create a nurturing environment, as this plays a crucial role in
shaping a child’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development.
Question 2
The first biological theory proposed by Arnold Gesell is known as the
Maturational Theory of Development.
According to this theory, a child’s growth and development are mainly
determined by biological factors and genetic inheritance rather than by the
environment. Gesell believed that children develop according to a natural, fixed
timetable that is controlled by their biological maturation.
He argued that skills such as sitting, walking, talking, and thinking emerge
automatically when the child’s nervous system and body are ready. For example,
a child will begin to walk when their muscles and brain have matured enough, not
simply because they are trained.
