Developmental Theories: Cognitive and Psychosocial Development
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Contrasting Developmental Theories
You have learned about a number of theories in child and adolescent development this term, including how these theories help you to understand physical, emotional/social, and cognitive changes from birth through adolescence. One of the major theories you have considered this term is Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory; however, several other theories have been studied as well, such as Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, and Bowlby’s Ethological Theory of Attachment, to name a few.
For this Assignment, you will be contrasting two developmental theories – Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory and a second theory of your choice. This second theory should be a theory that has been covered in this class. Please use the Unit 9 Assignment Template to contrast the theories by filling out the table and answering some questions on the ideal developmental theory. The theories will be contrasted on the following points:
Main characteristics of theory
Domain of focus (physical, cognitive, social/emotional, or a combination of several domains)
Considers development to be continuous or discontinuous
Stance on influence of nature and nurture
Example of theory concept applied to child development (cite textbook information/research findings to support your ideas)
Two strengths of theory
Two weaknesses of theory
Critical thinking questions: The ideal developmental theory
1) If you had to choose a theory that completely describes child and adolescent development, which of the two theories from the contrast above would you choose or would you select certain components of several theories? Explain your choice.
2) What aspects of your theory (or theories) make it more attractive than the others?
3) Does your theory describe development from infancy through adolescence completely? If yes, would you consider your theory the ideal child development theory? If no, what else would need to be added to your theory to completely describe child and adolescent development?
Contrasting Developmental Theories
First/Last Name
Department of Psychology, Purdue University Global
PS220: Child and Adolescent Psychology
Instructor’s Name
Date
Please contrast two developmental theories – Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory and a second theory of your choice that has been covered in this class. Identify your theory choice by listing it in the table. Contrast the theories by filling out each cell of the table.
Theory
Piaget
Erikson
Main Characteristics of Theory
Piaget believes that cognitive development among children occasions in four stages.
The sensorimotor stage, which is from birth to two years.
The preoperational state from age two to seven years.
The concrete operational stage is from seven to eleven years.
The formal operational stage is from age twelve and up (Cherry, 2015).
A person’s personality develops through a series of eight distinct stages from childhood to adulthood. A psychosocial crisis characterizes the stages that one has to overcome for personality development. The stages are; trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generatively vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair (Maree, 2021, pp. 1110-12).
Domain of focus (physical, cognitive, social/emotional, or combination of several domains)
The theory focuses on cognitive development, which grows as children acquire intelligence throughout the different stages (Cherry, 2015).
The theory focuses on the social and emotional development of an individual. By completing the different psychosocial stages, one achieves a healthy personality and acquires essential virtues (Maree, 2021, pp. 1110-12).
Continuous or Discontinuous Development?
The development is a continuous process of growth from one stage into the next, more like a staircase process as children construct and acquire knowledge based on the ideas they come across at every stage of their lives.
The development is continuous, from the first stage to the last, as one grows through to adulthood and must be completed if one is to proceed to other stages.
Stance on Influence of Nature and Nurture?
According to Piaget, both nurture and nature influence cognitive development. Nature ensures that the body and mind are mature enough to learn, while the way children are nurtured facilitates their response to learning (Cherry, 2015).
Erikson’s theory focuses on the importance of social interactions in a person’s life. These interactions play an integral role in resolving conflicts in each stage, which is an influence of nurture.
Example of Theory Concept applied to child development (cite textbook information/research findings to support your ideas)
The concepts of egocentrism, reversibility, and constancy that characterize the preoperational stage of the theory have been applied to assess the IQ of children aged 4-7years. According to Marwaha, Goswami, and Vashist, perceptual and cognitive egocentrism among the kids was at 10.7% and 31.7%; centration was at 96.3%, while 99% lacked the concept of revers...
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