Theories of development

Theories of development

1. Behaviourism

   • Classical conditioning
     • Pavlov
     • Watson
   • Operant conditioning
     • Skinner
   • Emphasis on environment
   • Child - 'a blank slate'

2. Social learning theory (Bandura)

   • Reinforcement not necessary
   • Learn though modelling/observation
   • Environment
   • 4 inter-related factors to learning

3. Constructivism

   • Piaget
     • Stages of development
   • Light (1979) - the chipped beaker
   • Emphasis on environment
     • Interaction of environment (learning) and biology (maturation)
   • The learning individual
   • Ping pong model

4. Social constructivism (Vygotsky)

   • Interaction of environment and biology
   • Emphasis - society & culture
   • 'the learning group member'
   • The Wolf pack model (group learning)
   • Social learning

5. Nativism (Chomsky)

   • Biology
   • Child a 'pre-programmed' organism
   • Teaching - no intervention required
     • Snowball effect model