Divorce & the Psychological Theories of Development
The Effects of Divorce on Children Based on the Application of the Psychological Developmental Theories
Abstract
This paper looks at the effects of divorce on children based on the application of various psychological developmental theories. More specifically, children within the age groups of 4 to 6 and 7 to 11 will be taken into account. The theories explored and applied will include Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, Erikson’s psychosocial tasks, Bowlby’s attachment theory, Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory, Bandura’s social learning theory and Vygotsky’s, and later Bronfenbrenner’s, ecological or developmental systems approach.
Keywords: divorce, developmental theories, Freud, Erikson, Bowlby, Piaget, Bandura, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner
In the US today, about 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce with a greater percentage of subsequent marriages ending in divorce (apa.org, 2013). In addition, one-half to two-thirds of those who divorce remarries and one of every six adults in the US divorces two or more times. Forty percent of children in this country will experience parental divorce (Portnoy, 2008, p. 126). How does divorce affect children? Does divorce impact children of different age groups differently? This is something that has been thoroughly studied and something that would vary depending on the psychological theory applied. Some theories divide children into different age groups based on where they are developmentally based on that theory while other theories suggest that early life is the predominant determining factor on one’s later self. Still, other theories view a person as ever changing based on a plethora of influencing factors.
According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory there are three hypothetical structures: the id, the ego and the superego. The id is present at birth and is the amalgamation of the instincts, needs and feelings we have at birth. The ego is the conscious rational part of our
Abstract
This paper looks at the effects of divorce on children based on the application of various psychological developmental theories. More specifically, children within the age groups of 4 to 6 and 7 to 11 will be taken into account. The theories explored and applied will include Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, Erikson’s psychosocial tasks, Bowlby’s attachment theory, Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory, Bandura’s social learning theory and Vygotsky’s, and later Bronfenbrenner’s, ecological or developmental systems approach.
Keywords: divorce, developmental theories, Freud, Erikson, Bowlby, Piaget, Bandura, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner
In the US today, about 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce with a greater percentage of subsequent marriages ending in divorce (apa.org, 2013). In addition, one-half to two-thirds of those who divorce remarries and one of every six adults in the US divorces two or more times. Forty percent of children in this country will experience parental divorce (Portnoy, 2008, p. 126). How does divorce affect children? Does divorce impact children of different age groups differently? This is something that has been thoroughly studied and something that would vary depending on the psychological theory applied. Some theories divide children into different age groups based on where they are developmentally based on that theory while other theories suggest that early life is the predominant determining factor on one’s later self. Still, other theories view a person as ever changing based on a plethora of influencing factors.
According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory there are three hypothetical structures: the id, the ego and the superego. The id is present at birth and is the amalgamation of the instincts, needs and feelings we have at birth. The ego is the conscious rational part of our
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