THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT
human development=> the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior, thinking, emotion,
and personality throughout the lifespan
developmental theory=> principles and ideas that provide a framework for studying and
explaining development
MAJOR THEORIES
Sigmund Freud
psychoanalytic theory: our behavior is influenced by unconscious drives and motives
developed by Sigmund Freud from working with his patients and his own experiences
was the first person
looked at his own childhood and believed that what he experienced reflected what everyone else
experienced as a child
3 parts of the personality
1. id: present at birth
completely irrational and does not consider consequences
operates according to the pleasure principle: concept of immediate gratification
“I want what I want right now, no matter what!”
EX:
2. superego: holds all of your morals, beliefs, and standards
tells you to do the right thing
2 Subsystems
1. ego ideal: your ideal self-image that is made up of good and rewarded behaviors
2. conscience: being punished for bad behaviors
feel guilt when we do something wrong
EX:
When there is a conflict between the id and the superego, we experience anxiety
the ego steps in to help find a compromise
it’s the rational part of the personality
can be viewed as the mediator between the id and superego
operates by the reality principle: satisfying the id in a rational and appropriate manner
PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
Fixated: where you continue to display behaviors and needs from that stage
1. Oral Stage
Age:
major source of pleasure:
2. Anal Stage
Age:
major source of pleasure:
3. Phallic Stage
Age:
major source of pleasure:
during this stage, boys experience a conflict called the Oedipus complex, girls the Electra
complex
the child unconsciously is sexually attracted to the opposite sex parent and unconsciously
hates the same sex parent
castration anxiety: fear of father punishing him by cutting off his penis
girls at first want to be with their mothers
when they discover the genitals of the opposite sex, they don’t want to be with mom but with
dad
then they experience the Electra complex
penis envy: feel they are inferior to a man’s genitals, which they view as superior, and
blame mom for her inadequate penis (clitoris)
boys and girls resolve the conflict by eventually identifying with the same sex parent
4. Latency Stage
Age:
sexual urges are repressed during this stage
focus
5. Genital Stage
Age:
major source of pleasure:
felt that have to consider
Erik Erikson
PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
1. Trust vs. Mistrust: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive outcome: consistent and warm caregiving leads to a sense of predictability and
trust from environment
Negative outcome: physical and psych’l neglect leads to fear, anxiety, and mistrust of
environment
2. Autonomy vs. Doubt: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive outcome: independence and self-sufficiency, positive self-esteem
Negative: overly restrictive caregiving leads to self-doubt in their abilities and low selfesteem
3. Initiative vs. Guilt: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive: initiate activities, sense of social responsibility concerning the rights of others, selfconfidence
Negative: overly controlled parenting stifles spontaneity, sense of purpose, and social
learning; guilt and fear of punishment
4. Industry vs. Inferiority: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive: sense of pride from experience with others and competence in schoolwork, home,
and social activities
Negative: negative experiences leads to feelings of inferiority and inadequacy
5. Identity vs. Identity Confusion: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive: experiment with different roles and develops self-definition; commitments to future
adult roles
Negative: if experience pressures or demands from others, may feel confused about
identity and role in society
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive: establish lasting and meaningful relationships, sense of connectedness and
intimacy with others
Negative: b/c of fear of rejection or excessive self-preoccupation, unable to form close,
meaningful relationships, becomes psychologically isolated
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive: thru child rearing, caring for others, productive work, and community involvement,
expresses unselfish concern for welfare of next generation
Negative: self-indulgence, self-absorption, and preoccupation with own needs leads to
sense of stagnation, boredom, and lack of meaningful accomplishments
8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair: Age:
Goal/virtue:
Positive: reviews life and experiences strong sense of self-acceptance and meaningfulness
in accomplishments
Negative: reviews life and experiences regret, dissatisfaction, and disappointment about life
and accomplishments
Theory focuses on the
Jean Piaget
Piaget was concerned more with how people think, esp. children, instead of what they know
How you think tells more about your mental ability
4 Stages of Cognitive Development
1. Sensorimotor: Age:
Uses
Main gain during this stage is object permanence: the understanding that an object still
exists even if not seen
Usually not done until
2. Preoperational: Age:
Uses symbolic thinking to understand the world
In the form of words, symbols, pictures, mental images and mainly because of language
development
3. Concrete Operational: Age:
Begin to think more
Know the difference between
Can reverse mental operations and can concentrate on 2 aspects of a situation
However, their thinking is limited to
4. Formal Operational: Age:
Think more
Thinking tends to be more analytical
Can think of other aspects of a situation (like pros and cons)