ETHOLOGICAL
THEORY
 Attachment Theory
 Environmental Systems
 Socio-Cultural
Theories of Development
ETHOLOGICAL THEORY
 Behavior is:
… Strongly influenced by biology
… Tied to evolution
… Characterized by critical or sensitive periods
… Emphasized in environmental contexts
 Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
Theories of Development
EVALUATING ETHOLOGICAL
THEORY
• Contributions include:
– Emphasis on biology and evolution, sensitive periods
of development, and careful observations
• Criticisms include:
– Emphasis on biological foundations, inadequate
attention to cognition, emphasis on animal behavior
Theories of Development
ECOLOGICAL THEORY
 Bronfenbrenner’s view that development
influenced by five environmental systems:
… Microsystem
… Mesosystem
… Exosystem
… Macrosystem
… Chronosystem
Theories of Development
BRONFENBRENNER’S ECOLOGICAL
THEORY
Theories of Development
SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXTS
 Key dimensions include:
… Cross-cultural studies — comparisons of one culture
with one or more other cultures
… Ethnicity — range of characteristics rooted in
cultural heritage
… Gender — psychological and sociocultural
dimension of being female or male
Theories of Development
FAMILY CONTEXTS
 Children in non-poor environments were more likely
than those in poor homes to:
… Get responses to their speech
… Have toys or interesting activities
… Have more books of their own
… See their father daily
Theories of Development
FAMILY CONTEXTS
 Children in non-poor environments were more likely
than those in poor homes to:
… Get responses to their speech
… Have toys or interesting activities
… Have more books of their own
… See their father daily
Theories of Development
EVALUATING ECOLOGICAL
THEORY
 Contributions include:
… Emphasis on macro and micro dimensions and
socio-historical influences
 Criticisms include:
… Lacks emphasis on biological foundations and
inadequate attention to cognitive processes