Theories of Social Development1. Psychoanalytic Theories

• Freud’s• Erikson’s

2. Learning Theories• Behaviorist Learning theories (Watson, Skinner)• Social Learning theories

3. Social Cognition Theories4. Ecological and Evolutionary Theories

• Bioecological theories (Bronfenbrenner)• Ethology/Evolutionary Psychology Theories

1. Psychoanalytic Theories•Freud (1856-1939)

Behavior: the need to satisfy basic drivesBalancing act between:Id: pleasure seeking; develops early in the first yearEgo: rational problem solving; develops late in the first yearSuperego: internal moral standards; develops between ages 3-6

Weakness: Highly untestable

4 important contributions:Role of early experienceValue of subjective experienceUnconsciousEmotional relationships

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial DevelopmentStage 1: Basic Trust vs Mistrust

•First year•Crisis: sense of trust in caregiver•Learned to form contingencies, expectations, predictions

Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

•1–3 years•Crisis: developing independence and sense of self-efficacy

Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt•4–6 years•Crisis: developing standards/conscience without being crushed by worry of failure

Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority•6–puberty•Crisis: mastering skills to fit in with the culture (engage in social comparison)

Stage 5: Identity vs Role Confusion

•Adolescence–early adulthood•Crisis: sense of identity Who am I?

2. Learning Theories•Behaviorism (Watson)

Remember Little Albert?

Systematic Desensitization •Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

Every act is based on outcomes of past behavior(Positive outcome increases behavior, neg. decreases)

It is hard to extinguish a behavior that is intermittently reinforced If parents give in once…

Attention is a powerful reinforcer

Behavior modification

•Social Learning Theory

Focus on observation and imitation

Direct Imitation

Meltzoff showed that newborn infants were capable of imitatinga range of responses modeled by an actor.

• Bobo Doll Experiment

3. Theories of Social Cognition

• how children think about their own and others thoughts, feelings, motives, intentions, expectations, and behaviors

•Focus on internal/cognitive factors rather than external factors

Selman’s Stage Theory of Role Taking • he said until age 6 children are virtually unaware of others’ perspectives (new data refutes this) but clearly perspective-taking is important

Dodge’s Info-Processing Theory• Emphasized cognitive processes (such as interpretation)

• (e.g. hostile attribution bias, self-fulfilling prophecies)

4. Ecological Theories of Development

Micro-direct/immediateMeso-interconnectionsExo-indirectMacro-cultural/social contextChrono-temporal changes

•Ethological/Evolutionary Models:

Just as evolution influenced our physical traits it no doubt influenced our behavioral traits

certain genes predispose individuals to behave in a way that increases survival, mating,and reproduction. These genes are passed on.

focus on the adaptive or survival value of behaviorKonrad Lorenz (1903-1989)-Imprinting in

animals (attachment in humans?)Preference for face-like stimuli

•Weakness: Not easily testable, and data consistent with other theories as well

Social Dev. Theories Exercise• Name all psychological/behavioral gender differences

you can.• Name all gender stereotypes you can.• How would each of the following types of theorists

explain such gender differences:– Behaviorist learning theorists?– Social Learning theorists?– Social Cognition theorists?– Bioecological theorists (how would each of the 5 systems

influence gender)?– Evolutionary theorists?