Module 1 Part 4: Developmental Psychology
Key People
Jean Piaget
Theory: Cognitive Development Theory
Contributions: Piaget proposed that children move through four stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. He emphasized how children construct knowledge through interaction with their environment.
Erik Erikson
Theory: Psychosocial Development Theory
Contributions: Erikson outlined eight stages of psychosocial development, from infancy to late adulthood, each characterized by a specific conflict that must be resolved to progress to the next stage.
Lev Vygotsky
Theory: Sociocultural Theory
Contributions: Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction and cultural context in cognitive development. He introduced concepts such as the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and scaffolding.
John Bowlby
Theory: Attachment Theory
Contributions: Bowlby argued that early relationships with caregivers play a crucial role in child development and continue to influence social relationships throughout life.
Mary Ainsworth
Theory: Attachment Theory
Contributions: Ainsworth expanded on Bowlby's work with her "Strange Situation" study, identifying different types of attachment: secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant.
Cognitive Development Theory (Jean Piaget)
Sensorimotor Stage (Birth-2 years): Knowledge develops through sensory and motor activities.
Preoperational Stage (2-7 years): Symbolic thinking grows, but logical reasoning is limited.
Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years): Logical thinking about concrete events develops.
Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up): Abstract and hypothetical thinking emerges.
Psychosocial Development Theory (Erik Erikson)
Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)
Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt (Early Childhood)
Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool)
Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age)
Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)
Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)
Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)
Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood)
Sociocultural Theory (Lev Vygotsky)
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): The difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can do with help.
Scaffolding: Support provided by a more knowledgeable other that allows the learner to perform tasks they cannot do alone.
Attachment Theory (John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth)
Secure Attachment: Child feels confident that the caregiver will meet their needs.
Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment: Child is anxious about the caregiver's availability.
Avoidant Attachment: Child avoids closeness and emotional connection with the caregiver.
Ecological Systems Theory (Urie Bronfenbrenner)
Microsystem: Immediate environments such as family, school, and peers.
Mesosystem: Interconnections between microsystems.
Exosystem: External environmental settings that indirectly affect development.
Macrosystem: The broader cultural context.
Chronosystem: The dimension of time, including life transitions and historical events.
Moral Development Theory (Lawrence Kohlberg)
Preconventional Level: Morality is externally controlled.
Conventional Level: Morality is tied to personal and societal relationships.
Postconventional Level: Morality is based on abstract principles.