Developmental Theory

Developmental Theory

1. Cognitive theorists

   • Jean Piaget -schaema- stages sensory motor, pre operational, concrete,formal - cant understand things over stage - assimilation accomidation
     • methods: clinical interviews
     • Criticism:on his own children - language leading - dont understand - controlled environment uncomfortable
   • Kurt Fischer-Dynamic Skills theory- more flexible than piaget -developing skills practice and more experience doing it - phases rather than stages -sensory motor action , representation, abstraction -too many skills wont perform best
     • Criticisms: agrees with piaget learning is spontaneousand practice - cog development progresses at different rates for different skills- brain growth goes on to adulthood

2. Pse theorists

   • Michael Rutter - studied adolsecent boys home conflict more likely for disturbed behaviour than maternal seperation- separation not always the crucial factor- children can make multiple bonds - the condition of separation more important-children can recover from early childhood deprivation
     • Research Methods- Clinical Interviews- Questionaires
     • Criticisms- found seperation from 1 parent not strong cause for deliquency- Investigated adopted children found form strong bonds-research considered many variables before reaching conclusion
   • John Bowlby -Theory of Attachment -Importance of primary bond between mother and baby - form bonds is innate - can affect future mental health
     • Research methods - case studies - longitudinal studies
     • Criticisms - focussed on relationship with mother not any other - ignored chance of more attachments - home circumstances can cause emotional disturbance not necessarily seperation

3. Linguistic theorists

   • Roger Brown - research on telegraphic speech- 5 stages 2-3 word sentence,naming objects and events , questions what?why?where?joining short sentences, complex sentences - adult should repeat child with correct grammar -talk about real life so child can relate
     • Research methods- longitudinal - naturalistic
     • Criticism-only studied 3 children- childs memory not good enough to remember whole sentence so remembers important words
   • Noam Chomsky- Lad- nature- has to be heard - too complex to learn - children to be bathed in language
     • Criticism: if innate why does it take so long to acquire? why mistakes in grammar? why is their differences in liguistic skills

4. Methods

   • Naturalistic Observation - Natural Environment - Natural reaction - if noticed act differently- time sampling, checklists, grids- objective - interventionist manipulated -non interventionist more true picture - struggle to get everything down - provides info to plan to meet needs of child
   • Surveys - questionaires and interviews - can lie - not understand the question - can cover a large range of topics- if spoken could lead - oral or written - telephone or street survey -put children in an unnatural environment