Major Theorists of Child Development

1. Major Theorists of Child Development

2. These are just a few of the researchers and thinkers who have added to our understanding of child development in the twentieth century. • Sigmund Freud • Mari Montessori • Arnold Gessell • Jean Piaget • Lev Vygotsky • Erik Erikson • B. F. Skinner • Abraham Maslow • Albert Bandura • Robert Coles

3. Sigmund Freud(1856-1939) • Believed personality develops through a series of stages • Emotional experiences in childhood effect a person as an adult • Significance: Early experiences affect adult life (becomes VERY important if you are caring for a child)

4. Maria Montessori(1870-1952) • Stressed that children learn by using their senses • Learn best by perusing their interest* • Significance: Children need to be given objects to manipulate so they can exercise their sensory learning (Montessori schools)

5. Arnold Gesell(1880-1961) • Developed basic information about the order in which children master various skills • Also made known that the rate in which they do so is different for each child • Significance: Parents and other caregivers need to be aware of the standard course of development (Why?)

6. Jean Piaget(1896-1980) • Piaget was the first to study children in a scientific way • Focused on how children learn • Children go through four stages of thinking that shape how they see and learn about the world • What are those four stages? • Significance: children should be given tasks that are suitable for their stage of thinking

7. Lev Vygotsky(1898-1934) • Believed that biological development (nature) and cultural experience (nurture) influenced children’s ability to think and learn. • Social contact is essential for intellectual development • Significance: Children should have many opportunities for social interaction to develop intellectually

8. Erik Erikson(1902-1994) • Said personality develops through stages • Also believed that each stage includes a unique psychological crisis • If the crisis is resolved in a positive way, the individual will develop normally • Significance: Parents & caregivers must be aware of a child’s needs at a particular stage and be sensitive to the child’s needs at that stage

9. B. F. Skinner(1904-1990) • Argued that when a child’s action repeatedly brings positive effects, it will be repeated and learned • Felt when negative results repeatedly occur, eventually the child will stop the action • Significance: Parents & other caregivers can use rewards and punishments to try to influence a child’s behavior

10. Abraham Maslow(1908-1970) • Believed in a pyramid-shaped Hierarchy of Needs • Said for personal growth, needs must be met in a very specific order: • Physiological • Safety • Love & Belonging • Self Esteem • Self actualization is the highest • Significance: To reach full potential in life, children’s needs must be met sequentially (moving them up the pyramid)

12. Albert Bandura(1925-) • Said that children learn by modeling • Disagreed with Skinner • Although the environment shapes behavior, behavior also affects environment • Significance: Since children learn by modeling, parents & caregivers must provide good examples

13. Robert Coles(1929-) • Studied children’s moral development • Stressed the important role that parents & other caregivers play by the examples they set • Significance: For children to adopt moral learning, parents must show moral behavior