Week 2 - Developmental Theories
The reading this week brought me back to Psych 101 in college. Reflecting back on my 18 year old self in my Psych 101 class, I realize now why I failed to truly comprehend the subject matter. I was able to remember and memorize topics to succeed on assignments and exams, but I did not have the proper context to apply what I was learning from the class. At that point in time, I didn't have much life experience to apply what we were learning in class to many real world experiences. I am now older, married with two boys and several pets and extended family and friends within my community. The theories contained in Chapter 2 make more sense to me at this point in my life. I can understand how they would have developed but also how each theory seemed to learn from the one before it. Each theorist reflected on the different prior theories contributing new and differing information to support their theory but all the while expanding the explanation human behavior and development. As I read about each theory, I understood the concept and connections being made but in some cases could relate to the theories based on my life experiences.
For example, Freud's stages each have "a major function based on developmental wants or needs in that period of life and is linked to what Freud calls a pleasure center" (pg. 30 LifeSmart). The first three stages of Freud's theory I can understand since I have two sons and saw those stages first hand. The fourth stage I question since I doubt children recognize any sexual desires and giggle when learning about puberty and development. Stage five seems to revolve around the relationships outside of the immediate family and hormonal urges. I would believe this is more in the young adult stage such as late teens, twenties and early thirties. The latter years of one's life seems to be the hormonal changes as a person ages.
As I read through each of the theories, it made me reflect on the development and behaviors of my sons. When I read about Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Development on page 33 in LifeSmart, stage 3 - Initiative versus guilt (3 to 5 years old), I found his belief of play interesting. Erikson stated, "...play is particularly important during these years, to support a child's identity and as a safe way to reduce tension..." My husband and I truly believe free play has been vital for our sons. We encouraged imaginative play through toys like Thomas the Train, Fisher-Price Little People and Lego and through nature like using sticks as swords to battle for the prize. Each of my sons learned how to build unique structures, use the toys in different contexts and increase their happiness and confidence as they succeeded with their play. Now our oldest son is largely interested in engineering and can conceptualize buildings or robots through his experiences with play.
I also found interesting the "Informational Processing Theory" noted on page 38 in LifeSmart. It notes that this theory is not stage based but based on processing. I find this applies to myself as my life experiences have shaped my personality, knowledge and skills over the course of my life to date. I still recall an experience with my high school basketball coach that made me more resolved in my determination and dedication. That determination experience helped me to walk-on my college's women's track and field team. I wasn't the best but I was determined to work hard and prove that I belonged on the team. I gained new friends, some life long, knowledge about coaching and skills on how to stay fit. I leveraged that knowledge to coach high school girls' track and field for six years. While I passed along knowledge I learned from my experiences, those high school girls imparted their behaviors and experiences on me. They helped me grow as an adult and eventually to learn to parent a future teenager.
As I read this chapter, I found that each theory was built for a specific period and what the theorist knew at the time. The theorists learned from their predecessor and either built on what was done before or helped the theorist develop a new theory. I think each theory has validity and is applicable in learning about human behaviors. I was able to relate a personal experience as I read through the various theories and confirm each theory helped determine a person's development.
For example, Freud's stages each have "a major function based on developmental wants or needs in that period of life and is linked to what Freud calls a pleasure center" (pg. 30 LifeSmart). The first three stages of Freud's theory I can understand since I have two sons and saw those stages first hand. The fourth stage I question since I doubt children recognize any sexual desires and giggle when learning about puberty and development. Stage five seems to revolve around the relationships outside of the immediate family and hormonal urges. I would believe this is more in the young adult stage such as late teens, twenties and early thirties. The latter years of one's life seems to be the hormonal changes as a person ages.
As I read through each of the theories, it made me reflect on the development and behaviors of my sons. When I read about Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Development on page 33 in LifeSmart, stage 3 - Initiative versus guilt (3 to 5 years old), I found his belief of play interesting. Erikson stated, "...play is particularly important during these years, to support a child's identity and as a safe way to reduce tension..." My husband and I truly believe free play has been vital for our sons. We encouraged imaginative play through toys like Thomas the Train, Fisher-Price Little People and Lego and through nature like using sticks as swords to battle for the prize. Each of my sons learned how to build unique structures, use the toys in different contexts and increase their happiness and confidence as they succeeded with their play. Now our oldest son is largely interested in engineering and can conceptualize buildings or robots through his experiences with play.
I also found interesting the "Informational Processing Theory" noted on page 38 in LifeSmart. It notes that this theory is not stage based but based on processing. I find this applies to myself as my life experiences have shaped my personality, knowledge and skills over the course of my life to date. I still recall an experience with my high school basketball coach that made me more resolved in my determination and dedication. That determination experience helped me to walk-on my college's women's track and field team. I wasn't the best but I was determined to work hard and prove that I belonged on the team. I gained new friends, some life long, knowledge about coaching and skills on how to stay fit. I leveraged that knowledge to coach high school girls' track and field for six years. While I passed along knowledge I learned from my experiences, those high school girls imparted their behaviors and experiences on me. They helped me grow as an adult and eventually to learn to parent a future teenager.
As I read this chapter, I found that each theory was built for a specific period and what the theorist knew at the time. The theorists learned from their predecessor and either built on what was done before or helped the theorist develop a new theory. I think each theory has validity and is applicable in learning about human behaviors. I was able to relate a personal experience as I read through the various theories and confirm each theory helped determine a person's development.
Cindy, I like how you expressed the value free play for children, and used your kids as the example. When reading the chapter, i also instinctively thought of my 8-year-old when reading stage 3. Of course, the house can become a wreck when he is playing "Bounty Hunter," or cutting up cardboard to make his own masks and costumes, but to watch and see him using his imagination, and the creativity that his mind is capable of coming up with is incredible. He also is reading at a 5th grade reading level and is above the state and district average for math in school. I definitely believe it is his forward thinking and creativity he has instilled in himself through his free play that has allowed him to work so well, without knowing he is working so hard.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that having kids and watching them develop makes the theories taught in the class much more relatable and comprehensible.
Cindy, I really enjoyed reading your blog. The way you made and explained your connection to various stages. I made a connection to your exampled connection on Informational Process Theory. My father passed when I was 15. Being the one to help my mom with my little sister, I became determined and driven in school. That determination made it easier for me to completely focus and gain all the knowledge I needed before going home to help my sister. Thank you for your insight.
ReplyDeleteCindy, I really enjoyed your blog! You did an amazing job relating the theories to your life. I too feel each theory holds it own significance to development. While no theory is flawless, each one brings a different thought into the equation. It is an amazing feeling to be able to connect things you are taught in class to your own life, and makes it much easier to fully UNDERSTAND, rather than memorize. That seems to be the issue with the education system. Children, even today are taught with the goal in mind to pass an exam, not to retain and use the information. Unfortunate, but this is why we strive to teach!
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