Major Theories of Development
¤ Know all for the Test!!!
 Define morality and describe Kohlberg’s stages of moral development. Focused on
moral reasoning –why people think the way they do about right and wrong
1.
2.
3.
Level
Stage
What Determines Right
and Wrong
Preconventional – great
importance to the authority of
adults
1 – action is wrong if its punished
Punishment by adults
2 – action is right if its rewarded
3 – want approval of those close
to them
Reward by adults
Rules set by close
people
4 – more concerned with the
rules of broader society
5 – don’t see societies rules as
absolute
Rules set by society
6 – figure out right and wrong
based on abstract ethical
principles
Rules based on
abstract ethical
principles
Conventional – children value
rules in which they follow to
get approval from others
Postconventional – become
more flexible and consider
what’s personally important to
them
Rules set by society,
judged by what’s
personally important
 Outline Piaget’s four main stages of cognitive development, and comment on how a child’s
thinking changes during these four stages.
Stage – age
range
Description
Developmental Highlights
Sensorimoter
(birth-2)
Experiencing the world through
senses and actions – (looking,
touching, mouthing, and grasping)
Preoperational
(2-6 or 7)
Representing things with words
and images, use intuitive rather
than logical reasoning
Concrete
Operational (7
– 11)
Thinking logically about concrete
events, grasping concrete
analogies and performing math
Object permanence – the awareness that things
continue to exist even when not perceived
Symbolic Thought – represent objects in terms
of mental symbols
Stranger Anxiety – fear of strangers
Pretend play
Egocentrism – the difficulty taking another’s
point of view
Language development
Conservation – the principle that quantity
remains the same despite changes in shape
Reversibility – the ability to mentally reverse
actions 8+4=12 12-4=8
Decentration – the ability to focus on several
Formal
Operational
(12 –
adulthood)
Abstract reasoning
aspects of a problem
Abstract logic
Ability for moral reasoning
 Identify Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development and their accompanying
issues. Give examples and descriptions.
Stage
Conflict Faced
1
6
Trust vs. Mistrust – if the caretakers
meet babies needs, the baby becomes
attached and develops a sense of
security, otherwise, they may develop a
mistrustful, insecure attitude
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt – if
effective in learning tasks they may
develop autonomy or sense of doubt or
shame about themselves
Initiative vs. Guilt – may become more
self-confident or develop a sense of
guilt
Industry vs. Inferiority – may have a
sense of competence or a sense of
inferiority
Identity vs. Role confusion – develop a
sense of identity or are still confused
as to who they are and their role
Intimacy vs. Isolation
7
Generativity vs. Self-absorption
8
Integrity vs. Despair – become content
or disappointed about their lives and
fearful of the future
2
3
4
5
Typical Age
Range
First year of
life
Major Challenge(s)
1–3
Gaining independence – feeding
themselves, toilet training, and
dressing themselves
3–6
Acting in a socially responsible
way – must learn to control
their impulses
Competing with peers,
preparing for adult roles
6 – 12
Having basic needs met,
attaching to people
Adolescence
Determining one’s identity and
direction in life
Early
Adulthood
Developing intimate
relationships or become
isolated and lonely
Being productive either
through parenting or job
Evaluating one’s life
Middle
Adulthood
Old Age