Download Theoretical Perspectives

HPD 4C Working with School Age Children
and Adolescents - Mrs. Filinov
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A theoretical perspective is a nonexplanatory general framework.
It is meant to define a point of view within a
discipline, which may include basic
assumptions that draw attention to aspects of
a phenomenon.
A theory is a proposed relationship between
two or more concepts, often cause and effect.
theories are just a educated guess as to how
and why a situation might occur
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B1.1 explain human development throughout the lifespan
according to structuralist theoretical perspectives (e.g., the
stage theories of Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget)
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B1.2 explain human development throughout the lifespan
according to information-processing and learning
theoretical perspectives (e.g., the theories of Ivan Pavlov,
B. F. Skinner, John B. Watson, Albert Bandura)
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B1.3 explain human development throughout the lifespan
according to systemic and humanistic theoretical
perspectives (e.g., the theories of Urie Bronfenbrenner,
Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Bonnie Burstow, Barbara
Rogoff)
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Focuses on the inner person
Behavior is motivated by inner forces, memories
and conflicts that are generally beyond people's
awareness and control.
Sigmund Freud
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Erik Erikson
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 Became convinced that patients difficulties were due to
mental rather than physical problems.
 Proposed that distress is due to problems that dated
back to childhood.
 Suggests that developmental change occurs throughout our
lives in eight distinct stages.
 The stages emerge in fixed pattern and they are similar for
all people.
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Considering the outer person.
Suggests that the keys to understanding development are
observable behavior and outside stimuli in the environment.
John B. Watson - classical and operant conditioning
 Psychology can never be as objective as chemistry or biology. Consciousness
is not that easy.
 “I can take a child and make him into anything, a beggar, a doctor, a thief.”
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B.F. Skinner
 Believed that all behavior is a result of rewards and punishments in the
past.
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Ivan Pavlov
 showed automatic/involuntary behavior in learned responses to specific
stimuli in the environment.
 Created “Classical Conditioning.”
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Albert Bandura – social cognitive learning theorists
 Behavior is learned through observation and imitation
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Examining the roots of understanding
Focuses on the process that allow people to
know, understand and think about the world.
Jean Piaget’s - Cognitive theory
 Studies children’s cognitive development.
 Studies how we attend, perceive, think, remember,
solve problems and arrive at beliefs.
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Lev Vygotsky’s - Sociocultural theory
 Proposes that full understanding of development is
impossible without taking into account the culture in
which children develop.
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Concentrates on the unique qualities of human
beings
People have the natural tendency to make decisions
about their lives and control their behavior.
Barbara Rogoff
 focuses on the social and collaborative nature of learning and
the different forms of guidance that an adult provides a child
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Carl Rogers
 Former minister; believed all people strive for
perfection; some interrupted by a bad environment.
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Abraham Maslow - Hierarchy of Needs
 People’s struggle is to be the best they possibly can,
known as self-actualization.
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Believes that behavior is strongly influenced
by biology, is tied to evolution and is
characterized by critical and sensitive
periods.
Charles Darwin
 Studied the evolution of finches and expands
his study to include humans.
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Konrad Lorenz
 His work concentrates on human behavioral genetics
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Emphasizes the system of support
Seeks to explain individual knowledge,
development, and competencies in terms of
guidance, support and structure provided by
society.
Urie Bronfenbrenner
 According to U. Bronfenbrenner each person is
affected by interactions among a number of
overlapping ecosystems.