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Twentieth Century Developmental Theories
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Vygotsky
Constructivist: Vygotsky's theory stresses the role of social interaction in cognitive development. Development does not necessarily need to preceed learning. Culture also plays a role. (https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html) -
Piaget
Cognitive Development: Language development is seen as part of overall cognitive development. Cognitive development is portioned into four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Vocabulary (schema) is built until assimilation, accommodation, and equilibration occurs. Language is developed in the same process as other cognitive skills. (https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html) -
Chomsky
Chomsky's nativist theory centers around the idea of a language acquisition device that all children posses: an ability to (once vocabulary is large enough) begin stringing words together into larger phrases. (Berk, p. 360) -
Bruner
Social Interactionist Theory: combines native capacity, a strong desire to communicate, and a rich language environment to help children develop linguistically (Berk, p. 367). -
B.F. Skinner
Behaviorist Perspective: Language development is a by-product of environmental influence. Children learn by reinforcement of what words mean. (https://www.simplypsychology.org/language.html) -
Erik Erikson
Personality is determined through eight psychosocial stages of development. This includes the ability to properly express and address emotions.
They include:
Trust v. Mistrust (Hope)
Autonomy v. Shame (Will)
Initiative v. Guilt (Purpose)
Industry v. Inferiority (Competency)
Identity v. Role Confusion (Fidelity)
Intimacy v. Isolation (Love)
Generativity v. Stagnation (Care)
Ego Integrity v. Despair (Wisdom)
(https://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html) -
Bowlby's Ethological Theory of Attachment
Widely accepted, this concept recognizes an infant's emotional tie to its primary caregiver as a necessity for survival. They are too young to have developed emotions toward their caregiver. (Berk, p. 428) -
Internal Working Model
Serves as a guide for relationships. It includes the expectations about the attachment figures (caregivers) and their ability to provide, as well as interactions between the child and caregivers. (Berk, p. 430) -
Functionalist Approach
Functionalist approaches to emotional development include utilizing emotion to attain personal goals. (Berk, p. 401) -
Dynamic Systems Perspective
The expression of emotions will vary not just with each unique individual, but will also depend on the person's developmental capacities. A teenager will be better able to express their frustrations than a toddler, as they are much further along developmentally. (Berk, p. 405)