Overview of Child Development

 Overview of Child Development

Definition:

Change in the child that occurs over time.  Changes follow an orderly pattern that moves toward greater complexity and enhances survival.

Origins of Child Development Theories

6th - 15th centuries Medieval period

Preformationism: children seen as little adults.

Childhood is not a unique phase.

Children were cared for until they could begin caring for themselves, around 7 years old.

Children treated as adults (e.g. their clothing, worked at adult jobs, could be married, were made into kings, were imprisoned or hanged as adults.)

16th Century Reformation period

Puritan religion influenced how children were viewed.

Children were born evil, and must be civilized. 

A goal emerged to raise children effectively. 

Special books were designed for children.

17th Century Age of Enlightenment

John Locke believed in tabula rasa

Children develop in response to nurturing.

Forerunner of behaviorism

18th Century Age of Reason

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 - children were noble savages, born with an innate sense of morality; the timing of growth should not be interfered with.

Rousseau used the idea of stages of development.

Forerunner of maturationist beliefs

19th Century Industrial Revolution

Charles Darwin 

theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest 

Darwin made parallels between human prenatal growth and other animals.

Forerunner of ethology

20th Century

Theories about children's development expanded around the world. 

Childhood was seen as worthy of special attention.

Laws were passed to protect children, 

Outline of 20th Century Theories

Psychoanalytical Theories

Psychosexual: Sigmund Freud

Psychosocial: Erik Erikson

Behavioral & Social Learning Theories

Behaviorism: Classical Conditioning - John Watson & Operant Conditioning - B.F. Skinner

Social Learning - Albert Bandera

Biological Theories

Maturationism: G. Stanley Hall & Arnold Gesell

Ethology: Konrad Lorenz

Attachment: John Bowlby

Cognitive Theories

Cognitive Development: Jean Piaget

Socio-cultural: Lev Vygotsky

Information Processing

Systems Theories

    Ecological Systems: Urie Bronfenbrenner