Theories

Theories

1. Maturation

   • Gesell
     • Psychologist
     • Paediatrician
     • Pioneer in child development
   • Help explain biological maturation related to development
   • What did he base his belief on?
     • Development genetically determined from birth
     • follow same orderly sequence in development
     • Pace of development may vary on P.I. development
   • Observed behaviours of many children, determined average and 'norms' called milestones of development
   • Negatives
     • Not consider influence of individual or cultural differences
     • Believed 'norms' of development described = desirable
   • Positives
     • Determined typical norms of development
     • Advanced methodology in observations

2. Social learning

   • Bandura
   • Attention
     • Learning takes place when attention is focused on person who 'models' the behaviour. Likely to imitate behaviour of someone they identify with or admire
   • Retention
     • what child has observed, retained in memory to use if opportunity occurs
   • Reproduction
     • what learned reproduced or imitated. ? rehearsed in child's mine before imitated later
   • Motivation
     • Feel motivated= anticipate different reinforcements. Motivated to repeat or stop behaviour

3. Reinforcement

   • Positive
     • Repeated due to personal satisfaction or rewards
   • Negative
     • Not repeated to avoid adverse experience e.g. lack of satisfaction or being told off
   • Vicarious
     • May be motivated= see person or 'model' they observe is getting satisfaction or positive feedback
     • May resist imitating the action because model receives negative feedback from action