Chapter 1 (Part 2) Theories – Flashcards

A lack of scientific support, too much emphasis on sexual underpinnings (Freud's theory), too much credit given to the unconscious mind, and an image of children that is too negative (Freud's theory).

Whereas psychoanalytic theories stress the importance of the unconscious, cognitive theories emphasize conscious thoughts.

Piaget's cognitive developmental theory Vygotsky's sociocultural cognitive theory Information-processing theory

Children actively construct their understanding of the world. We go through four stages of cognitive development. Organization and adaptation — underlie the FOUR STAGES of development in Piaget's theory 1) Sensorimotor (birth-2) 2) Preoperational (2-7) 3) Concrete Operational (7-11) 4) Formal Operational Stage (11-adulthood) We organize our experiences. We separate important ideas from less important ideas. We connect one idea to another. We adapt, adjusting to new environmental demands. Each stage: is age-related, consists of a distinct way of thinking, consists of a different way of understanding the world

Children actively construct their knowledge gave social interaction and culture far more important roles in cognitive development than Piaget did; emphasized how culture and social interaction guide cognitive development Portrayed child's development as inseparable from social and cultural activities

Too little emphasis on cognition in Skinner's view and giving inadequate attention to developmental changes and biological foundations.

Stresses that behavior: is strongly influenced by biology is tied to evolution is characterized by critical or sensitive periods The European zoologist, Konrad Lorenz (1903-1989), helped bring ethology to prominence.

identified imprinting - as the rapid, innate learning within a limited critical period of time that involves attachment to the first moving object seen (defined by Lorenz/ethological theory)

There is too much emphasis on biological foundations and a belief that the critical and sensitive period concepts might be too rigid.

Does not follow any one theoretical approach, but rather selects from each theory whatever is considered its best features