Theories of Social Development 1.Psychoanalytic Theories Freud’s Erikson’s 2.Learning Theories Behaviorist Learning theories (Watson, Skinner) Social Learning theories 3.Social Cognition Theories 4.Ecological and Evolutionary Theories Bioecological theories (Bronfenbrenner) Ethology/Evolutionary Psychology Theories

1. Psychoanalytic Theories Freud ( )  Behavior: the need to satisfy basic drives Balancing act between:  Id: pleasure seeking; develops early in the first year  Ego: rational problem solving; develops late in the first year  Superego: internal moral standards; develops between ages 3-6  Weakness: Highly untestable  4 important contributions:  Role of early experience  Value of subjective experience  Unconscious  Emotional relationships

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development Stage 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 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/immediate Meso-interconnections Exo-indirect Macro-cultural/social context Chrono-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 behavior  Konrad Lorenz ( )-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?