Child Development Research Paper

PSY104: Child and Adolescent Development
Theories of Development
Dr. Craig Allen
November 1, 2000

Introduction
There are five major theoretical perspectives that focus on different aspects of Child Development, they are;
(1) Psychoanalytic, which focuses on the unconscious, emotions, and drives that are shaped by unconscious forces.
(2) Learning, this studies observable behavior; People react, to the environment that controls behavior.
(3) Cognitive, which analyzes thought processes; Children are natural initiators of development. (4) Contextual, which emphasizes the impact of the historical, Social, and Cultural context; (5) Evolutionary/Socio-biological, which considers evolutionary and biological underpinnings
Learning theorist see development as a constant and never ending development that stays with us through our lives and not in just adult stages. Many theorists have help to make the study of human development a science that can be studies in the laboratory. There are two major learning theories, behaviorism and social learning or social cognitive. Papalia, Olds, Wendkos, Feldman, Duskin (2008) p.30
Behaviorism
Behaviorism is a mechanistic theory meaning a predictable observed behavior without response to experience. Behaviorist hold that humans of all ages learn the same way as other organisms do by reacting to conditions of their environment involving pain, pleasure and threats. (Papalia 2008). Behavioral research focuses on two kinds of learning; they are classical conditioning and operant conditioning. (Papalia 2008) Classical conditioning involves experiments in which dogs learn to salivate at the sound of a bell that indicated feeding time. The ringing of the bell stimulates salivation a (stimulus) the bell, which meant food. Learning based on stimuli that elicit a particular response was created to the Russian Physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936). (Papalia
Physical abilities such as pushing, pulling, twisting, turning, wiggling, sitting and rising are examples of nonlocomotor movement. This type of movement helps develop balance and coordination skills. Manipulative Movement Movement that involves controlled use of the hands and feet is reflected in manipulative movement. Physical abilities such as grasping, opening and closing hands, waving, throwing and catching are examples of manipulative movement. This type of movement helps develop fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Running, jumping, skipping, hopping, drawing, cutting, pasting, stacking - these are the skills young children develop as they grow physically. They make possible the interactions and activities that bring richness and enjoyment to anyone 's life. From muscles to motor skills, the unfolding picture of a child 's physical development is an exciting experience to observe. Parents and caregivers should pay attention to their child 's physical growth and give loving support as their children develop these skills.
Sean Brotherson (April/2006) Understanding Physical Development in young children retrieved November 1,