Chapter 2
Models of Human
Development
© Gallahue, D.L., & Ozmun, J.C.. Understanding Motor Development.
McGraw-Hill
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Key Concept
Human Development Is Studied From
a Variety of Theoretical Frameworks,
All of Which Have Implications for the
Motor Development and Movement
Education of Infants, Children,
Adolescents, and Adults
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Theoretical Models of
Development
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Psychoanalytic theory (Freud)
Psychosocial theory (Erikson)
Maturational theory (Gesell)
Environmental theory (Havighurst)
Cognitive theory (Piaget)
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Conceptual Viewpoints of
Development
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Phase/stage theories (descriptive)
Developmental task theories
(predictive)
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Developmental milestone theories
(descriptive/predictive)
Ecological Theories (explanatory)
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Leading Developmental
Theorists (Table 2.1)
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Erik Erikson (phase/stage theory)
Robert Havighurst (developmental task
theory)
Jean Piaget (developmental milestone theory)
Nicholas Bernstein (ecological theory
dynamic systems branch)
Roger Barker (ecological theory: behavior
setting branch)
Urie Bronfenbrenner (ecological theory:
behavior setting branch)
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Dynamic Systems Theory Nicholas
Bernstein: transactional processes
(Figure 2.1)
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Change is nonlinear (i.e. discontinuous)
Change is self-organizing
Change is governed by affordances &
constraints
Change is transactional (T.I.E)
Change involves degrees of freedom
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Behavior Setting Theory Urie
Bronfenbrenner: ecological meaning
(Figure 2.2)
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Change is ecologically (i.e.. environmentally)
based
Change is governed by the attached meaning:
- activities (what people do)
- roles (people’s expected behaviors)
- relationships (how we treat people)
Microsystems (family, peers, school)
Mesosystem (interacting microsystems)
Exosystem (indirect but important social
settings)
Macrosystem (ones’ cultural reality)
Chronosystem (one’s total life experience)
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Phase/Stage Theory
Erik Erikson: experience is
destiny (Table 2.2)
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Trust vs. Mistrust (mutual affirmation)
Autonomy vs. Doubt and Shame (“terrible
two’s”)
Initiative vs. Guilt (play age)
Industry vs. Inferiority (learning new skills)
Identity vs. Role Confusion (fidelity &
devotion)
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Intimacy vs. Isolation (love & affiliation)
Generativity vs. Self-absorption (mid-life
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Integrity vs. Despair (reflection & fulfillment)
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crisis)
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Milestone Theory (Table 2.3)
Jean Piaget: accommodation +
assimilation = adaptation (Figure 2.3)
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Sensorimotor phase (basic assimilation
& schema formation through
movement)
Preoperational phase (advanced
assimilation through physical activity)
Concrete operations phase (reversibility
with intellectual experimentation)
Formal operations phase (deductive
reasoning through hypothesis
formulation)
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Developmental Task Theory (Robert
Havighurst: teachable moments)
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Infancy - Early Childhood (birth to
5 years)
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Middle Childhood (6 to 12 years )
Adolescence (13 to 18 years)
Early adulthood (19 to 29 years)
Middle Adulthood (30-60 years)
Later Maturity (60>)
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Concluding Concept
Although A Variety of
Theories Attempt to Both
Describe and Explain Human
Development, All Fall Short
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