Psychology Week 2: Whowell. Theories of Development
This week we read chapter 2 talked about the theories of development. There were three goals that we wanted to take away from the reading. One, who is Freud and what is his psychoanalytic theory? Two, what relationship did we take away the psychosocial crises and lifespan delevelopnent? And three, what where Maslow's heirachy of needs and what did importance is it to me?
First, Frued was one of the most influential theologist. He was one of the first people to come up with these powerful ideas of development, and how each of person has the same stages of development. He breaks it down into five stages the oral stage, the Anal stage, the phallic stage, the latency stage, and the genital stage. Each stage is broken down by age but also by a pleasure center. Each person moves from stage to stage as each pleasure center is satisfied. A person moves from stage to stage as each a pleasure center is satisfied. The big things I took away from this is how uncomfortable I am, at first, with this theory. At first looking at children as sexual beings or beings that are looking for sexual wholeness, is not something that I would've ever came to a conclusion with on my own. However looking at it how he breaks it down I do see each stage is derived. The psychoanalytical theory is the theory of the development of personality with an emphasis on the role of the unconscious. Understanding this theory really help me understand Frued in general, that the pleasure centers are not something we consciously choose however our ego which is part of her personality chooses for us.
Secondly, The chapter talks about Eric Erickson's psychosocial theory of development. There are eight stages and each is broken down by a life crisis that an individual must resolve to move onto the next stage. The stages are broken down by age that correlates to each crisis. The stages range from basic trust versus mistrust, to industrial versus inferiority, to intimacy versus isolation, and finally integrity versus despair. My first reaction to Erickson's theory is that immediately I can understand it a little bit more than Freud's. I can personally see within the children in my family, and within myself as well, the struggles occuring at these ages. For example my niece who is seven, struggles with being herself at school. I had asked her if she is as talkative as she is at home as she is in school, and her reply was no. She still struggles with not being shy or timid in her class, and yet who overtime is learning to open up more and more. Which Erickson describes as industry versus inferiority and expanding their horizons beyond family and explain to their neighborhood. (Pg. 33) I believe Erickson's psychosocial theory explains very well the lifespan development and how a person throughout their life grows into each stage and what each stage produces whether it is love or care or wisdom.
Lastly the chapter talks about Maslow's hierarchy of need. This only briefly talked about is where one has self actualization, esteem, love and belongingness, safety, and physiological needs. He talks about how hard it is to fill each need and as each need is met it can be met in different levels as well and ultimately the source of satisfaction anyone can achieve depends on themselves. I think this is very important to me specifically, because of awesome needs are easier to be met like food water, safe surroundings, and exercise. There are other needs that are a little harder to do and that you have to work towards as in having self-esteem within relationships feeling loved and connected and ultimately getting to the point of self actualization where you were not the most important thing in the world, However helping others is a more satisfying need to be met.
While learning about these three things, I also took away some of the other theories presented by other philosophers as well. For example, I really liked Bandura's social cognitive learning theory. In this theory he talked about the importance of role models and that children often do what they see versus what you tell them to do. When I read that I thought of the famous phrase "monkey see monkey do." Children look to you at all times so need to be aware of your actions at all times. Just telling a child, "Do as I say not as I do," it isn't as effective as actually just showing the child that you should do and back up what you say.
This was a fun chapter for me and I really liked learning about all the theories.
First, Frued was one of the most influential theologist. He was one of the first people to come up with these powerful ideas of development, and how each of person has the same stages of development. He breaks it down into five stages the oral stage, the Anal stage, the phallic stage, the latency stage, and the genital stage. Each stage is broken down by age but also by a pleasure center. Each person moves from stage to stage as each pleasure center is satisfied. A person moves from stage to stage as each a pleasure center is satisfied. The big things I took away from this is how uncomfortable I am, at first, with this theory. At first looking at children as sexual beings or beings that are looking for sexual wholeness, is not something that I would've ever came to a conclusion with on my own. However looking at it how he breaks it down I do see each stage is derived. The psychoanalytical theory is the theory of the development of personality with an emphasis on the role of the unconscious. Understanding this theory really help me understand Frued in general, that the pleasure centers are not something we consciously choose however our ego which is part of her personality chooses for us.
Secondly, The chapter talks about Eric Erickson's psychosocial theory of development. There are eight stages and each is broken down by a life crisis that an individual must resolve to move onto the next stage. The stages are broken down by age that correlates to each crisis. The stages range from basic trust versus mistrust, to industrial versus inferiority, to intimacy versus isolation, and finally integrity versus despair. My first reaction to Erickson's theory is that immediately I can understand it a little bit more than Freud's. I can personally see within the children in my family, and within myself as well, the struggles occuring at these ages. For example my niece who is seven, struggles with being herself at school. I had asked her if she is as talkative as she is at home as she is in school, and her reply was no. She still struggles with not being shy or timid in her class, and yet who overtime is learning to open up more and more. Which Erickson describes as industry versus inferiority and expanding their horizons beyond family and explain to their neighborhood. (Pg. 33) I believe Erickson's psychosocial theory explains very well the lifespan development and how a person throughout their life grows into each stage and what each stage produces whether it is love or care or wisdom.
Lastly the chapter talks about Maslow's hierarchy of need. This only briefly talked about is where one has self actualization, esteem, love and belongingness, safety, and physiological needs. He talks about how hard it is to fill each need and as each need is met it can be met in different levels as well and ultimately the source of satisfaction anyone can achieve depends on themselves. I think this is very important to me specifically, because of awesome needs are easier to be met like food water, safe surroundings, and exercise. There are other needs that are a little harder to do and that you have to work towards as in having self-esteem within relationships feeling loved and connected and ultimately getting to the point of self actualization where you were not the most important thing in the world, However helping others is a more satisfying need to be met.
While learning about these three things, I also took away some of the other theories presented by other philosophers as well. For example, I really liked Bandura's social cognitive learning theory. In this theory he talked about the importance of role models and that children often do what they see versus what you tell them to do. When I read that I thought of the famous phrase "monkey see monkey do." Children look to you at all times so need to be aware of your actions at all times. Just telling a child, "Do as I say not as I do," it isn't as effective as actually just showing the child that you should do and back up what you say.
This was a fun chapter for me and I really liked learning about all the theories.
I enjoyed reading your post! You highlighted some great points that we read throughout our readings. I especially enjoyed reading your last paragraph emphasizing Bandura's social cognitive learning theory. The importance of role models is crucial in the world of developing children. I like to remember, that sometimes children don't always have the best role models at home therefore, it would be eye-opening as a future educator to be that role model someone needs. When you stated "children often do what they see versus what you tell them to do" is a great statement. I am the coordinator at the Chicago Park District and it is vert important to stress to my counselors that they need to set a good example of a role model to the children that attend our camp for the sole purpose of what you stated. Children do what they see not what you tell them to do.
ReplyDeleteThank you!