Developmental Theories Summary Essay Example

four things. These include their attentional abilities, memory, and physical changes tied to age. As a result, what a child learns from any given modeled event may vastly differ from what an adult may learn from that same event (Boyd & Bee, 2006, p. 32). Studies show that positive influences around children can impact positive behavior, while negative influences from their parents or peers have a negative impact on their development, from childhood to adolescence. The theories of psychologists Vygotsky and Lave are akin to Bandura’s work on modeling behavior.

Many experts emphasize the importance of social learning in changing behavior, particularly regarding aggression and psychological disorders. This theory is widely used to modify behavior and serves as the basis for behavior modeling in training programs. Unlike psychoanalytic and psychosocial theories that propose clear developmental stages from childhood to adolescence, the social learning theory does not delineate any such stages.

Both psychoanalytic and psychosocial theories stress the significance of successfully passing through each developmental stage for a child's maturity. If unsuccessful, individuals may become stagnant. It is imperative to successfully complete infancy stages in order to progress into toddlerhood. The social learning theory emphasizes how children learn from their parents' cognitive development. During my upbringing, my parents made sure that I was protected from undesirable influences.

Parents play a crucial role in shaping the behavior of their children, as they are highly susceptible to external influences. This extends to the television programs that parents allow their children to watch. Bandura (1997) argues that people learn new behaviors by observing others and creating mental images of how those actions are performed, which eventually impacts their own conduct. Hence,

parents must be cautious about the examples they set for their children and mindful of their actions.

Children are susceptible to the influence of their parents and peers throughout their childhood and teenage years. Based on my own observations, several of my son's classmates show inappropriate behavior at school. Consequently, I have counseled my child to steer clear of these students who frequently receive disciplinary action from the principal.

Following a letter from my son's teacher regarding certain students negatively affecting others, they were ultimately expelled from the class. Children's behavior can be impacted by their peers and parents, whether positively or negatively. Psychoanalytic theory proposes that unconscious thoughts contribute to children's actions. It is challenging to comprehend why a child throws tantrums and behaves wildly when not receiving what they desire without taking into account how they behave towards their parents.

According to psychoanalytic theory, individuals may be influenced by subconscious thoughts beyond their control. Sigmund Freud believed that children's behavior is governed by such thoughts, and he introduced the concept of sublimation as a means for developing libido through object change. Freud posited that humans are born with potential pleasure sources referred to as "polymorphously perverse," but fixation on specific objects occurs during different stages of development including oral, anal, and phallic stages. The Oedipus Complex involves a child's fixation on their mother as a sexual object; however, society deems this taboo so the desire becomes repressed.

The Electra complex, which involves an obsession with the father, is a lesser known concept compared to the Oedipus complex. This occurs during the latency stage of psychosexual development before reaching the genital stage. Many modern thinkers criticize Freud's

approach as being phallocentric as he believed that the unconscious desires the penis.

According to Freud, males experience a fear of castration, which means they are afraid of losing their phallus or masculinity to another male. In contrast, females consistently desire to possess a phallus despite it being an unattainable desire. This results in boys resenting their fathers due to the fear of castration, while girls desire theirs. Freud believes that desire is always defined by what one lacks or what one is not, leading to an unsatisfiable desire that is challenging to fulfill. Thus, his psychoanalysis treatment aims to teach patients how to deal with their insatiable desires.

Understanding a child's behavior during their development from childhood through adolescence can be aided by studying Freud's psychoanalytic stages. These stages can help psychologists in the psychotherapy field to treat childhood behavior. Additionally, a child's cognitive behavior is influenced by interactions with both their mother and strangers, with midrange bi-directional coordination being prominent in infant-mother interactions.

Anticipated avoidant attachment may result if a baby lacks unidirectional coordination, causing the infant to distance themselves from their parents and regulate themselves. The child's perception of their parents and others is influenced by the level of attachment they feel towards them. Developmental difficulties can arise for children due to parental negligence or lack of concern. Meeting children's financial needs and showing affection is crucial for their success in life. As the child develops their ego, their requirements will change, requiring continuous adjustment from caregivers and parents.

It is crucial to acknowledge that effective parenting is not an inherent quality. Even those who excel at caring for babies may find it challenging to

handle their teenagers' identity concerns. The entire family's interactions influence the child's personality and overall welfare. Regrettably, some parents assume that their children will forever remain juveniles and never mature into adulthood.

As a child develops, their needs and desires change, meaning that parents must manage the various stages of growth. While psychoanalytic theory emphasizes developmental transitions, psychosocial theory prioritizes building trust as the primary ego task which is never fully attained. The mother becomes an internal certainty and external predictability enabling the child to be comfortable without her presence. The level of trust or mistrust largely depends on the quality of the maternal relationship. Erikson believed that this concept persists throughout one's life according to Wikepedia.

Properly addressing and handling the concept of trust versus mistrust during infancy is crucial, as it can negatively impact an individual's ability to engage with the world, form healthy relationships, and experience personal growth. Failure to do so may result in a loss of hope and difficulties overcoming life's challenges. Incomplete internalization of trust versus mistrust may hinder an individual's overall development. Suppressing natural instincts towards manipulation and discrimination can occur if independence is denied.

According to the text, shame arises when a child becomes self-conscious rather than driven by their subconscious. For children to trust others, they must first trust themselves. Sometimes, children may find themselves in trouble without knowing how they got there. This could be because their subconscious is controlling their behavior. Cognitive change is necessary to correct a child’s behavior.

When children are unable to address their subconscious thoughts, it can impede their growth and development. This can potentially affect their behavior from childhood until adulthood. It has

been observed that many adult behaviors stem from an inability to successfully progress through various developmental stages. As a result, some adults exhibit tantrums when they do not get what they want.

During my lunch break at Mc Donald’s, a customer received an incorrect order and began yelling irrationally at the employee in the restaurant. Despite being an adult, their behavior lacked maturity. Erickson's epigenetic theory suggests that the psychosocial stages are present in latent form at birth and unfold based on innate factors and upbringing within a culture's values. These stages build upon each other and lead to subsequent ones.

The psychosocial aspects of each stage are defined by both physiological development and societal expectations. Each stage presents its unique psychosocial crisis. Childhood behavior can be influenced by social factors, and negative influences can lead to negative behaviors during adolescence. According to cognitive psychosocial theories, children often experience guilt as they explore new physical and mental capabilities. The castration complex experienced during this stage is linked to the child's erotic fantasies.

According to Erikson's theory, a residual conflict regarding initiative may lead to hysterical denial and eventually result in the repression of a child's wish and ego, which can cause paralysis and inhibition or overcompensation and showing off. The Oedipal stage not only establishes a moral code but also sets the direction towards which a child will progress. During this stage, children want to initiate and complete their own actions for a purpose. Each new crisis creates a trust in the developing person because of changes in the environment, which is similar to social learning theory where parents have an impressionable effect on their children.

However, in psychoanalytic theory, parents must master their own stages, since the behavior of parents can affect a child's developmental stages.

However, the psychosocial theory presents contrasting distinctions from most behavioral theories. It proposes that both cognitive and action-oriented methods are crucial in helping individuals advance from precontemplation to contemplation, that is, to form intentions, according to prediction and change models.

According to Boyd and Bee (2006) Erikson believed that development arises from the interplay of drives and cultural demands, progressing through psychosocial rather than psychosexual stages. As per his theory, development transpires throughout one's lifetime, with adults still undergoing a phase that commenced during infancy.

Several corporations instruct their managers and supervisors on Bandura's social learning theory, which suggests that a child's conduct can be influenced by their surroundings, whether it is favorable or unfavorable, along with the influence of their parents. This theory can aid in the intellectual growth of youths and may also have physical consequences.

Although Bandura's theory is applicable to neither the psychoanalytic nor psychosocial stages, these developmental stages, which span from infancy to adolescence, are critical for parents as any concerns that may arise could impact their child's development. Nonetheless, emotional development is minimally impacted by social learning unless a parent's behavior influences the child.

Bandura posits that a child's behavioral imitation is influenced by the environment, much like Freud's theory. However, in contrast to Freud, both psychological and biological factors impact the child's development in stages that may not be heavily impacted by their surroundings. The psychosocial stage is primarily influenced by parental figures.

In their 2006 book, Adult Lifespan Development (4th edition), Boyd and Bee emphasize the significant impact of parents

on cognitive development during the psychosocial stage. Unlike psychoanalytic stages that are influenced by id, ego, or superego; this stage is shaped by environmental factors. Furthermore, emotional growth during infancy and adolescence can influence an individual's development. Understanding developmental theories is crucial for comprehending the behavior of children and teenagers.

Introduction to Psychology (6th ed) was written by Plotnick (2002) and published by Pearson Education, Inc. and Wadsmouth Group, Thompson Learning, Inc.

To learn more about Bandura's (1997) book, "Self Efficacy: The Exercise of Control," which was published by Freeman in New York, please visit www.wikipedia.com.