Module 9 Human development theories Why are there

Module 9: Human development theories

Why are there different theories? Theorists disagree about what has had the most influence on our development and the different ways in which we develop. Look at these images and discuss what these differences are. versus Genetic inheritance Environment versus Developing through a series of fixed stages Developing continuously throughout life Module 9: Human development theories

What are the different approaches? Theorists who share the same assumptions about human development and behaviour are said to share the same approach. One approach is Psychodynamic. Can you think of five more? Behaviourist Cognitive Humanistic Approaches to human development Psychodynamic Social Learning Biological Module 9: Human development theories

Psychodynamic approach Early childhood experiences are important for the development of personality. Who are the four key theorists? What were their theories about development? Freud The unconscious mind has a powerful influence on the way we develop and behave. Erikson Developmental stages are related to the social environment of the child and attitude of its parents. Bowlby The role of the mother and effects of maternal deprivation are important to early childhood. Rutter Stress in a child’s life is linked to the likelihood of the child becoming a delinquent. Find out more about the psychodynamic approach and its key theorists here. Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here. Module 9: Human development theories

Humanistic approach Argues that the way people feel about themselves is very important and affects everything they think, say and do. There are two main theorists. Discuss who they are and what they believed. Rogers People need a high level of self-esteem to achieve their full potential. Maslow Self-actualisation Esteem passions, creativity, morality, problem solving Can you label Maslow’s hierarchy? Click each segment to see the labels. Self esteem, confidence, respect of and by others Friendship, family, Love/belonging People are motivated by a social interaction, intimacy, affection hierarchy of needs. When the lower levels are Security of: body, employment, Safety satisfied they are able to resources, morality, family, property, health fulfil higher needs. Food, water, sleep, breathing, health Physiological Find out more about the humanistic approach and its key theorists here. Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here. Module 9: Human development theories

Behaviourist approach Believes that most human behaviour is learned from the environment. We learn to repeat behaviour with a positive consequence and not to repeat behaviour with a negative consequence. There are two key theorists. Pavlov Classical conditioning Builds on behaviour that already exists Skinner Operant conditioning Behaviour is learned from environmental consequences. Can you think of examples of when these ideas can be seen? We may experience pain at the dentist and so may be conditioned to feel anxious or stressed before going to the dentist. So, nature or nurture? A child may learn to behave in a certain way because it receives praise or punishment. nurture Find out more about the behaviourist approach and its key theorists here. Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here. Module 9: Human development theories

Cognitive approach Cognition is processing information about the world around us and adapting our behaviour as a result. Here are the two main theorists. Discuss the key difference in how they believed children learn best. Piaget Children learn best when finding out about themselves – ‘discovery learning’. Vygotsky Children learn best from social interaction with peers – ‘cooperative learning’. Find out more about Piaget here and Vygotsky here. Record a summary of this approach and its theorist on a downloadable grid here. Module 9: Human development theories

Social learning approach Argues that the major influences on a person’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour are other people, our culture and society. There is one key theorist. Bandura Children learn from their environment by observing other people and then imitating what they do. How would this theorist explain this child’s behaviour? Tom is an angry, aggressive 5 year old boy. His father is an alcoholic and often loses his temper with his family. Record your ideas here: Tom is imitating his father’s aggressive behaviour. Find out more about Bandura and the social learning approach here. Record a summary of this approach and its theorist on a downloadable grid here. Module 9: Human development theories

Biological approach Argues that our physical development, behaviour and personalities are the result of the interaction of our genes and our nervous and endocrine systems. There are three main theorists for this approach. Discuss what they believed. Eysenck Believed there are two personality dimensions: Extrovert-Introvert and Stable-neurotic. Cattell Gesell Claimed there are 16 source traits to make up personality. Have a go at Cattell’s personality test here. So, nature or nurture? Maturation: predetermined and regular development of children from birth through stages in a fixed sequence. nature Find out more about the biological approach here. Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here. Module 9: Human development theories

Which approach? Match the beliefs and theorists below to the three approaches on the right. Click to highlight the colour that matches the approach. Generic inheritance determines our behaviour Major influences are our culture and society Bandura Most human behaviour is learned From our environment Skinner Behaviourist (1 click) Eysenck Social Learning (2 clicks) We can be conditioned to behave in certain ways We can be categorised as a particular personality type Pavlov Cattell Children learn from their environment by imitating others Behaviour builds on natural reflexes that already exist Biological (3 clicks) Module 9: Human development theories

Human development: what do you think? There is no single ‘right’ approach that answers all questions about human behaviour and development. Discuss these questions: • Are our intelligence and personality the result of nature, nurture or a combination of both? • Is our personality at 3 years old an indication of what we will be like at 30 years old? • Do we develop through fixed stages or develop continuously throughout our lives? • Does watching violence on television or in films make us more aggressive? • Does a poor home life mean you are likely to become a delinquent? Module 9: Human development theories