Theories on Child Development
Types and Categories
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Psychoanalytic
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Freud
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Erikson
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Mead
Cognitive
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Piaget
Class Challenge
Formulate your own theory after hearing about the
others.
Consider:
1. What category would you place it under.
2. How many, if any stages would you include.
3. How would you demonstrate your theory in
action?
Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
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He explains the impact of social experiences
across the lifespan.
Each stage is concerned with becoming
competent in an area at a certain stage in life
At each stage a task or conflict must be met. If
it is growth and development has occured. If
not, failure.
In the “Young Adult” Unit we covered the last 4
stages (Identity vs Role Confusion, Intimacy vs
Isolation, Generativity vs Isolation, Integrity vs
Despair)
Erikson and Child Development
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Trust vs Mistrust (Birth to One Year) – security and
fear
Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt (1 – 3 years) – learn to
control your surroundings. Failure results in
inadequacy
Initiative vs Guilt (Preschool) – assert power and
control over the world. Failure of this task brings about
lack of initiative.
Industry vs Inferiority (5 – 11 years) – children begin
to develop pride in their work and accomplishments.
Parents and teachers affirm a child's success through
encouragement.
Erikson's Stages
George Mead (Symbolic
Interactionalist Theory)
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An individual is a product of their society
Children learn through social experience,
interactions and gestures
Child Development depends on two things –
symbols (language) and roles
Mead's Stages of Development
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1. Preparatory Stage
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Children copy behaviour without understanding
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Repetition because we encourage it through
language
2. Play Stage
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Children begin to imagine and understand actions
of others
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Role models teach children how to play
3. Game Stage
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Become involved in groups with others
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Learn appropriate behaviour or is sanctioned
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Conformity