CHILD DEVELOPMENT THEORIES, ABOUT.COM

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Survey of literature:

CHILD DEVELOPMENT THEORIES, ABOUT.COM

This online publication encapsulates the main ideas behind the most significant and well-known theories in cognitive and child development, including that of Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Bandura and Vygotsky.  Cherry (2012) details the relevance each concept holds to current society, as well as explaining the thoughts, research and studies undertaken in order to produce and support each notion.

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1.SIGMUND FREUD

Freud is responsible for The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development, a famous Psychoanalytic Child Development Theory declaring all behaviour to be driven by pleasure seeking energies, namely the libido.

His theory goes on to say if all five stages are correctly completed one can achieve a successful and healthy self, however if a stage is missed one experiences fixation; a constant focus on the absent stage. Freud obsesses of the important role early experiences play in regards to our development through to adulthood and personality.

The steps consist of the Oral Stage, lasting until the first birthday, the anal stage, lasting till the third birthday, the genitals, lasting to the sixth birthday, the latent stage, lasting until puberty and the genital stage, lasting from puberty to death.

 

The anal stage centre’s around the element of control and subsequent feelings of achievement; touching upon intrinsic motivations for behaviour. Freud describes the importance of toilet training; controlling the bowel and bladder and the effects it holds on later life if completed improperly, whilst mentioning the motivations and achievements expected and valued by parents and society. He states the varied results that can occur through operant conditioning (a learning method that occurs through rewards or punishments) put into place by the parent. A harsh approach of punishment, shock and shame can lead to an anal expulsive personality; namely a wasteful, messy, destructive personality, whilst overbearing strict parenting can result in an obsessive, rigid, orderly personality.

 

I believe Freud’s theory holds value to my document, the ideas behind completion of the anal stage, and the results of unsuccessful completion or unbalanced parenting holds relevancy to the core concepts of my subject area in terms of a balanced method of parenting and integration of technology, as well as motivations for cognitive development.

 

But I could be wrong because I’m ill as hell and fucking knackered.

 

 

Kendra Cherry, 2012. Child Development Theories [online]About.com. Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/childdevtheory.htm [accessed 14th November 2012].