Understanding The Theories And Theorists 1
Connecting the Dots: Understanding the Theories and Theorists
Directions: Refer to your textbook and to the lecture notes for more information on all the theories of child development. The points possible for each question are listed next to each question. (30 points total)
1. Why do we use theories to explain child development and learning? (2 points)
2. Define classical and operant conditioning. (4 points)
a. How are they the same? How are they different? (4 points)
b. Give an example of each. (4 points)
3. Describe the nature versus nurture debate. (2 points)
4. Choose which theorist/ theory from the list below describes the child’s development in the scenario. Only one theory per scenario. You will use each theory only once.(14 points total)
Scenarios
_____ An infant has developed a strong attachment to his care giver and cries when she leaves a the end of the day.
_____ A one year old takes her first steps after pulling up and standing on the shelf.
_____ A two year old picks up a wooden block and pretends it is a telephone.
_____ To encourage her son to tie his own shoes, she shows him step by step and then watches and coaches to help him succeed.
_____ An infant cries each night and her parents come into her room to comfort her.
_____ A child is delayed in his development but is able to attend a community preschool which promotes his growth and development while also supporting his impoverished family.
_____ A preschooler is watching another child climb the ladder on the playground. After watching repeatedly, she starts the climb herself for the first time.
Theories
A. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-ecological Theory
B. B.F. Skinner’s Behaviorism
C. Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development
D. Erik Erikson’s Eight Stages of Man
E. Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
F. Jean Piaget’s Stages of Intellectual Development
G. Arnold Gesell’s Maturational Theory
Directions: Refer to your textbook and to the lecture notes for more information on all the theories of child development. The points possible for each question are listed next to each question. (30 points total)
1. Why do we use theories to explain child development and learning? (2 points)
2. Define classical and operant conditioning. (4 points)
a. How are they the same? How are they different? (4 points)
b. Give an example of each. (4 points)
3. Describe the nature versus nurture debate. (2 points)
4. Choose which theorist/ theory from the list below describes the child’s development in the scenario. Only one theory per scenario. You will use each theory only once.(14 points total)
Scenarios
_____ An infant has developed a strong attachment to his care giver and cries when she leaves a the end of the day.
_____ A one year old takes her first steps after pulling up and standing on the shelf.
_____ A two year old picks up a wooden block and pretends it is a telephone.
_____ To encourage her son to tie his own shoes, she shows him step by step and then watches and coaches to help him succeed.
_____ An infant cries each night and her parents come into her room to comfort her.
_____ A child is delayed in his development but is able to attend a community preschool which promotes his growth and development while also supporting his impoverished family.
_____ A preschooler is watching another child climb the ladder on the playground. After watching repeatedly, she starts the climb herself for the first time.
Theories
A. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-ecological Theory
B. B.F. Skinner’s Behaviorism
C. Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development
D. Erik Erikson’s Eight Stages of Man
E. Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
F. Jean Piaget’s Stages of Intellectual Development
G. Arnold Gesell’s Maturational Theory