Major Theorists in Child Development Episode 2 – Vygotsky, Erikson, and Freud

Cognitive Development Piaget is the primary theorist for cognitive development in the West. Russian theorist Lev Vygotsky, the founder of cultural-historical psychology, developed important theories of cognitive development in the Soviet Union from the 1920s to his death in 1934.

Lev Vygotsky Developed important theories on the role of socialization in education. Said that social learning takes place through internalization of culture and social relationships. Identified the zone of proximal development. Lev Vygotsky, Russian theorist of cognitive development

Sam is in the second stage of development.

Psychology of Play Vygotsky identified play as an instrumental part in the development of abstract thought. Example: –A child wishes to ride a horse but cannot. –At under age three, the child will probably be angry, but around age three, the childs relationship with the world changes. –The child picks up a stick and stands astride his horse. –It is terribly difficult for a child to sever [the meaning of a word] from the object. Play is a transitional stage in this development. At the moment when a stick [allows the child to] sever the meaning of horse from a real horse, one of the basic psychological structures determining the childs relationship to reality is radically altered.

(A precisely-calibrated tool for childhood cognitive development.)

Social Development Sigmund Freud Erik Erikson

Freuds Psychosexual Stages The psychosexual stages are five different developmental periods – oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages – during which the individual seeks pleasure from different areas of the body that are associated with sexual feelings. Freud emphasized that the first three developmental periods – occurring in a childs first five years – were the most important to social and personality development.

Freuds Stage 1 - Oral Period: Early infancy – first 18 months of life. The oral stage is a time when the infants pleasure seeking is centered on the mouth. Pleasure-seeking activities include sucking, chewing, and biting. If Jessica were locked into or fixated on this stage because her oral wishes were over- or under-stimulated, she would continue to seek oral gratification as an adult.

Freuds Stage 2 - Anal Period: Late infancy – 1 ½ to 3 years. The anal stage is a time when the infants pleasure seeking is centered on the anus and the functions of elimination. If Jessica were locked into or fixated on this stage, she would continue to engage in behavioral activities related to retention or elimination. Retention may take the form of being very neat, stingy, or behaviorally rigid. Elimination may take the form of being generous or messy.

Freuds Stage 3 - Phallic Period: Early childhood – 3 to 6 years. The phallic stage is a time in which the childs pleasure seeking is centered on the genitals. During this stage, Jessica will compete with the parent of the same sex (her mother) for the affections of her parent of the opposite sex (her father). Problems in resolving this competition (called the Electra Complex in females and the Oedipus Complex in males) may result in having feelings of inferiority for women and of having something to prove for men.

Freuds Stage 4 - Latency Period: Middle and late childhood – from 6 to puberty. The latency stage is a time when the child represses sexual thoughts and engages in nonsexual activities, such as developing social and intellectual skills. At puberty, sexuality reappears and marks the beginning of a new stage.

Freuds Stage 5 - Genital Period: Puberty through adulthood. The genital stage is a time when the individual has renewed sexual desires that he or she seeks to fulfill with others. If Jessica is able to successfully resolve conflicts in the critical first three stages, she will have the energy to develop loving relationships and a healthy and mature personality.

Eriksons Psychosocial Stages Eriksons psychosocial stages are eight developmental periods during which an individuals primary goal is to satisfy desires associated with social needs: the eight periods are associated, respectively, with issues of trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, generativity, and ego integrity. Each of these is related to a problem that needs to be resolved in order to develop positive personality traits. Unlike Freud, Erikson believed that social development continues throughout ones lifetime; therefore, he would emphasize Jessicas psychosocial needs and downplay the importance of sexuality in the first five years of life.

Eriksons Stage 1 – Trust vs. Mistrust Early infancy – birth through the first year. Potential problem: Jessica comes into the world as a helpless infant who needs much care and attention. If her parents are responsive and sensitive to her needs, Jessica will develop basic trust, making it easier for her to trust people later in life. If her parents neglect her needs, she may become mistrustful and have difficulty in dealing with the second stage.

Eriksons Stage 2 – Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Period: Late infancy – 1 to 3 years. Potential problem: As Jessica begins walking, talking, and exploring, she is bound to get into conflict with the wishes of her parents. This stage is a battle of wills between her parents wishes and Jessicas desire to do as she pleases. If her parents encourage Jessica to explore, she will develop a sense of autonomy. If her parents disapprove of or punish her for her explorations, she may develop a feeling that independence is bad and feel shame and doubt.

Eriksons Stage 3 – Initiative vs. Guilt Early childhood – 3 to 5 years. Potential problem: As a preschooler, Jessica has developed some cognitive and social skills and is expected to meet the challenges of her small world. Some of these involve taking responsibility and making plans. If her parents encourage her initiative, Jessica will develop the ability to plan. If her parents discourage initiative, she may feel guilty or unable to plan for her future.

Eriksons Stage 4 – Industry vs. Inferiority Middle to late childhood – 5 to 12 years. Potential problem: Jessicas grade school years are an exciting time, with participation in school, games with peers, and working to complete projects. If Jessica can direct her energy into completing tasks, she will develop a feeling of industry. If she has difficulty applying herself and completing homework, she may develop a feeling of inferiority and incompetence.

Eriksons Stage 5 – Identity vs. Role Confusion Adolescence. Potential problem: Adolescents need to leave behind the irresponsible and impulsive behaviors of childhood and develop their purposeful adult roles. If Jessica is successful in making this change, she will develop a sense of confidence and a positive identity. If she is unsuccessful, she will experience role confusion, which will result in her having low self- esteem and becoming socially withdrawn.

Evaluation of Freuds and Eriksons Theories Many psychologists agree with Eriksons theories on the importance of psychosocial and environmental interactions. –Longitudinal studies have shown that personality change and development continue well into adulthood. Many psychologists also agree with Freud about the importance of childhood events; most, however, criticize him for neglecting the influences of social and cognitive factors on social development. –Longitudinal studies seem to suggest that children can overcome a variety of problems in the first five years of age and still have a well-adjusted personality.

Review of Childhood Development: The Big Picture Cognitive Development –Piagets theory says that children play an active role in cognitive development by incorporating new information into existing knowledge (assimilation) and changing existing knowledge through experience (accommodation). Children pass through four different stages: –Sensorimotor –Preoperational –Concrete Operations –Formal Operations –Vygotsky emphasized social and cultural learning and the importance of play in the cognitive development of children.

Review of Childhood Development: The Big Picture Freud said that children go through five psychosexual stages and that during the first three stages, the individual seeks pleasure from different areas of the body associated with sexual feelings. Erikson identified eight psychosocial stages during which the individuals primary goal is to satisfy desires associated with social needs.

Quickwrite Questions 1.How does Vygotsky differ from Piaget in his view of cognitive development? (1 min.) 2.Why do you think Freud placed such heavy emphasis on the first three stages of psychosexual development? (2 min.) 3.How do Freuds theories of psychosexual development differ from Eriksons theories of psychosocial development? (1 min.) 4.Can someone believe in both Freuds psychosexual theory and Eriksons psychosocial theory? Why or why not? (2 min.)

Discussion Questions How would Freuds and Eriksons theories apply to a 3-year-old whose parents are getting divorced? Which theorist makes more sense to you: Freud or Erikson? Why?