1. Module 9: Human development theories

2. Why are there different theories?
Theorists disagree about what has had the most influence on our development and the different ways in which we develop.
Look at these images and discuss what these differences are.
versus
Genetic inheritance
Environment
Click on the pictures to find out the answers.
versus
Developing through a series of fixed stages
Developing continuously throughout life
Module 9: Human development theories

3. What are the different approaches?
Theorists who share the same assumptions about human development and behaviour are said to share the same approach.
One approach is Psychodynamic. Can you think of five more?
Behaviourist
Cognitive
Humanistic
Approaches to human development
Click to reveal the answers.
Social Learning
Psychodynamic
Biological
Module 9: Human development theories

4. Psychodynamic approach
Early childhood experiences are important for the development of personality.
Who are the four key theorists? What were their theories about development?
Freud
The unconscious mind has a powerful influence on the way we develop and behave.
Developmental stages are related to the social environment of the child and attitude of its parents.
Erikson
Bowlby
The role of the mother and effects of maternal deprivation are important to early childhood.
Click on the pictures to find out more information.
Rutter
Stress in a child’s life is linked to the likelihood of the child becoming a delinquent.
Find out more about the psychodynamic approach and its key theorists here.
Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here.
Module 9: Human development theories

5. Humanistic approach
Argues that the way people feel about themselves is very important and affects everything they think, say and do.
There are two main theorists. Discuss who they are and what they believed.
Rogers
Can you label Maslow’s hierarchy? Click each segment to see the labels.
People need a high level of self-esteem to achieve their full potential.
passions,
creativity,
morality,
problem solving
Self-actualisation
Self esteem,
confidence,
respect of and by others
Esteem
Maslow
Friendship, family,
social interaction, intimacy, affection
People are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. When the lower levels are satisfied they are able to fulfil higher needs.
Love/belonging
Click on the theorist names to find out more information.
Safety
Security of: body, employment,
resources, morality, family, property, health
Physiological
Food, water, sleep, breathing, health
Find out more about the humanistic approach and its key theorists here.
Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here.
Module 9: Human development theories

6. Behaviourist approach
Believes that most human behaviour is learned from the environment. We learn to repeat behaviour with a positive consequence and not to repeat behaviour with a negative consequence. There are two key theorists.
Pavlov
Skinner
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Builds on behaviour that already exists
Behaviour is learned from environmental consequences.
Can you think of examples of when these ideas can be seen?
We may experience pain at the dentist and so may be conditioned to feel anxious or stressed before going to the dentist.
A child may learn to behave in a certain way because it receives praise or punishment.
Click on the theorist names to find out more information.
So, nature or nurture?
nurture
Find out more about the behaviourist approach and its key theorists here.
Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here.
Module 9: Human development theories

7. Cognitive approach
Cognition is processing information about the world around us and adapting our behaviour as a result.
Here are the two main theorists. Discuss the key difference in how they believed children learn best.
Piaget
Vygotsky
Click on the pictures to find out more information.
Children learn best when finding out about themselves – ‘discovery learning’.
Children learn best from social interaction with peers – ‘cooperative learning’.
Find out more about Piaget here and Vygotsky here.
Record a summary of this approach and its theorist on a downloadable grid here.
Module 9: Human development theories

8. Social learning approach
Argues that the major influences on a person’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour are other people, our culture and society. There is one key theorist.
Bandura
Children learn from their environment by observing other people and then imitating what they do.
How would this theorist explain this child’s behaviour?
Tom is an angry, aggressive 5 year old boy. His father is an alcoholic and often loses his temper with his family.
Record your ideas here:
Click on the theorist names to find out more information.
Tom is imitating his father’s aggressive behaviour.
Find out more about Bandura and the social learning approach here.
Record a summary of this approach and its theorist on a downloadable grid here.
Module 9: Human development theories

9. Biological approach
Argues that our physical development, behaviour and personalities are the result of the interaction of our genes and our nervous and endocrine systems.
There are three main theorists for this approach. Discuss what they believed.
Eysenck
Cattell
Gesell
Maturation: predetermined and regular development of children from birth through stages in a fixed sequence.
Believed there are two personality dimensions: Extrovert-Introvert and Stable-neurotic.
Claimed there are 16 source traits to make up personality.
Have a go at Cattell’s personality test here.
Click on the theorist names to find out more information.
So, nature or nurture?
nature
Find out more about the biological approach here.
Record a summary of this approach and its theorists on a downloadable grid here.
Module 9: Human development theories

10. Which approach?
Match the beliefs and theorists below to the three approaches on the right. Click to highlight the colour that matches the approach.
Generic inheritance
determines our
behaviour
Major influences are
our culture and society
Skinner
Behaviourist
(1 click)
Bandura
Most human
behaviour is learned
From our environment
Eysenck
Social Learning
(2 clicks)
We can be conditioned
to behave in certain ways
We can be categorised
as a particular
personality type
Pavlov
Biological
(3 clicks)
Cattell
Children learn from
their environment by
imitating others
Behaviour builds on
natural reflexes
that already exist
Module 9: Human development theories 10

11. Human development: what do you think?
There is no single ‘right’ approach that answers all questions about human behaviour and development.
Discuss these questions:
Are our intelligence and personality the result of nature, nurture or a combination of both?
Is our personality at 3 years old an indication of what we will be like at 30 years old?
Do we develop through fixed stages or develop continuously throughout our lives?
Does watching violence on television or in films make us more aggressive?
Does a poor home life mean you are likely to become a delinquent?
Module 9: Human development theories