Kathleen Stassen Berger

Part I

Chapter Two

Heredity and Environment

What Theories Do Grand Theories

Emergent Theories
What Theories Contribute
Prepared by Madeleine Lacefield Tattoon, M.A.
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What Theories Do
developmental theories
a systematic statement of principles and generalizations that provides a coherent framework for understanding how and why people change as they grow older
lead to pivotal hypotheses generate discover offer practical guidance

What Theories Do
developmental theories
grand theories
describe universal processes and development throughout the entire life span offers a framework for interpreting and understandingchange and development of all individuals some are emergent theories new systematic and comprehensive theories of the future

Grand Theories
psychoanalytic behaviorism (learning theory) cognitive
grand in that they are
comprehensive enduring widely applied
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Psychoanalytic Theory
a grand theory of human development that holds that irrational, unconscious drives and motives, often originating in childhood, underlies human behavior

Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud 1856-1936
development in the first six years has three stages, each characterized by sexual pleasure
infancy the mouth the oral stage early childhood the anus the anal stage preschool years the penis the phallic stage beginning of adolescence through death latency genital stages

Psychoanalytic Theory

Erikson 1902-1994
a follower of Freud, interested in
culture diversity social change psychological crises

described eight developmental stages

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Trust vs. Mistrust Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Initiative vs. Guilt Industry vs. Inferiority Identity vs. Role Confusion Intimacy vs. Isolation Generativity vs. Stagnation Integrity vs. Despair
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Psychoanalytic Theory

Behaviorism Theory
Watson 1878 1958
emphasis on unconscious
hidden urges all behavior is learned specific laws of learning apply to conditioning

Behaviorism Theory

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Behaviorism Theory
Law of Behavior - learning theories
all behavior is learned step by step conditioning
the processes by which responses become linked to particular stimuli

classical conditioning - respondent conditioning

a person or animal is conditioned to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus

operant conditioning - instrumental conditioning

learning process by which a particular action is followed by something desired the person will repeat the action

reinforcement
A technique for conditioning behavior where behavior is followed by something desired

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Behaviorism Theory
Social Learning Theory
an extension of behaviorism that emphasizes the influence that other people have over a persons behavior
modeling
The central process of social learning by which a person observes the actions of others and then copies them

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Cognitive Theory
The third grand theory
emphasized the structure and development of thought processes

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Cognitive Theory
Jean Piagets 4 Stages
sensorimotor preoperational concrete operational formal operational

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Cognitive Theory

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Cognitive Theory
Cognitive equilibriumstate of mental balance.
If threatened, how do we achieve equilibrium again?
Assimilation: incorporate new events into existing schemas Accommodation: change schema
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Emergent Theories
multicultural and multidisciplinary , developed not only by men of European ancestry but also by many nonWestern, non-White, and female scientists

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Sociocultural Theory
an emergent theory that holds that development results from the dynamic interaction between each person and the surrounding social and cultural forces Lev Vygotsky
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Sociocultural Theory
cultural variation
adult responses are shaped by culture society provides not only customs but also the tools and theories

guided participation
a technique in which skilled mentors help novices lean not only by providing instruction, but also by allowing direct, shared involvement in the activity

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Sociocultural Theory
Zone of proximal development
skills, knowledge, and concepts that the learner is close to acquiring but cannot master without help

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Zone of proximal development

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Epigenetic Theory
An emergent theory of development that considers both the genetic origins of behavior (within each person and within each species) and the direct, systematic influences that environmental forces have over time on genes
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Genetic Adaptation
Selective adaptation
the process by which humans and other organisms gradually adjust to their environment genes for the traits that are most useful will become more frequent, thus making survival of species more likely.

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What Theories Contribute

Psychoanalytic theory has made us aware of the importance of early childhood experiences. Behaviorism has shown effect of the immediate environment on learning. Cognitive theory shows how intellectual process and thinking affect actions. Sociocultural theory has reminded us of the importance of culture in learning.

Epigenetic theory reminds us of the power of genes and their interaction with the environment.

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The Nature-Nurture Controversy

Nature
The genes that people inherit

Nurture
To all the environmental influences

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The Nature-Nurture Controversy

Nature and Nurture Always interact
Heredity vs. Environment

How much of any characteristic, behavior, or pattern of development is the result of genes and how much is the result of experience?
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Theoretical Perspectives on
Hyperactivity
Nature
They are usually boys who have male relatives with the same problem They are overactive in every context, home as well as school They are often calmed by stimulants, such as Ritalin, Adderall, and even coffee

Nurture
The rapid increase in ADHA (from 1 to 5 percent of all U.S. children within the past 50 years) cannot be genetic, since selective adaptation takes centuries Many environmental factors correlate with ADHD, including crowded homes, television, lead, food additives, and rigid teaching
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Theoretical Perspectives on
Homosexuality
Nature vs. Nurture
Children raised by homosexual couples (either adopted or the biological offspring of one of the parents) become heterosexual or homosexual in about the same proportions as children raised by heterosexual and do not seem particularly rebellious or emotionally disturbed.
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No Answer Yet

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