Class 1: Introductions and about Theory
 
Introductions and about this class
Tips on Critical Thinking and Writing
Dinner
What is developmental psychology?
What makes a theory a theory?
Folk theories and philosophies
Societal views of children change drastically!
garcia.jpg
Example: child as little adult, child as sinner, child as worker, child as innocent, child as vulnerable, child as system of systems
Child as blank slate: Locke ---> Learning Theory, Social Learning Theory
Child as corrupted by society: Rosseau ---> Montessori, Piaget
Features of a scientific theory of human development
Description of change (i.e. changes that are considered important)
Explanation of change (i.e. what drives change)
Makes predictions
Structure of a theory
Assumptions about what things are most important and how to view them
Example: Piaget: Children are self-motivated to explore their world and try out new tasks
Predictions
How do theories change? Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolution
Paradigms: theories AND their world-views, values, assumptions
Examples
Earth-centered universe v. Sun-centered universe
World-view: Earth is the centered of the universe
Species creation v. Evolution by natural selection
Species cannot change
Behavioralism v. Cognitive Science
Behavior can be understood without referring to hidden stuff (thoughts, motives, emotions)
Theories change when there is so many things that the theory can’t explain (anomalies) that it is abandoned for an alternative
Example: learning theory and the cognitive revolution
Pre-paradigmatic period: Unrefined notions, debate before one theory dominates the world-view of scientists
Normal science period: making theory more precise, refined
Revolutionary science period: Sudden change in views: WHAT counts as evidence? Often, the old scientists die.
Lessons: Theories are not just logical system and scientific progress does not work like a computer; it is a social system.
Why are developmental theories useful?
Focuses on “most important” factors
Evaluates effectiveness
Provides arena for debate
Disadvantages
Leads to blinders and biases and dogma
As nature made him: The Boy who was Raised as a Girl by John Colapinto
Infocirc.org/rollsto2.htm
Oversimplifies
What are general types of theories?
Almost all theories focus one just one or two aspects of human development; few “grand unified theories”
cognitive
language
observed behavior
emotions & personality
perception
Consider three types of influences on the child
Maturation (genes, growth)
Immediate environment (parents, peers, teachers)
Culture (language, history, traditions)
Skinner’s learning theory and Bandura’s social learning theory
IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
Freud’s psychodynamic theory and Erikson’s life crises
MATURATION and immediate environment
Piaget’s constructivism
MATURATION and environment
Vygotsky’s contextualism
CULTURE, immediate environment, maturation
Chomsky’s nativism
MATURATION
Short Essay: In a page or two, please write a clear, concise, legible argument about the following (IT WILL NOT BE GRADED!)
Is astrology a theory? Both astrology and human development theories share some similarities and many differences. How are the two similar and how are they different? Is astrology a theory or not?
NOTE: DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR NOTE SHEETS WITH YOU!
NOTE: DON’T FORGET TO RETURN YOUR FOLDER! THANKS!
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