1. Heredity and Environment
Part I
Chapter Two
Heredity and Environment
What Theories Do
Grand Theories
Emergent Theories
What Theories Contribute
Prepared by Madeleine Lacefield Tattoon, M.A.

2. What Theories Do developmental theories
a systematic statement of principles and generalizations that provides a coherent framework for understanding how and why people change as they grow older
lead to pivotal hypotheses
generate discover
offer practical guidance

3. What Theories Do developmental theories grand theories
describe universal processes and development throughout the entire life span
offers a framework for interpreting and understanding…change and development of all individuals
some are emergent theories – new systematic and comprehensive theories of the future

4. Grand Theories psychoanalytic behaviorism (learning theory) cognitive
grand in that they are…
comprehensive
enduring
widely applied

5. Psychoanalytic Theory
a grand theory of human development that holds that irrational, unconscious drives and motives, often originating in childhood, underlies human behavior

6. Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud
development in the first six years has
three stages, each characterized by sexual pleasure…
infancy – the mouth – the oral stage
early childhood – the anus – the anal stage
preschool years – the penis – the phallic stage
beginning of adolescence through death – latency – genital stages

7. Psychoanalytic Theory
Erikson –
a follower of Freud, interested in
culture diversity
social change
psychological crises
described eight developmental stages
Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Initiative vs. Guilt
Industry vs. Inferiority
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Integrity vs. Despair

8. Psychoanalytic Theory

9. Behaviorism Theory Watson 1878 – 1958 emphasis on unconscious
hidden urges
all behavior is learned
specific laws of learning apply
to conditioning

10. Behaviorism Theory

11. Behaviorism Theory Law of Behavior - learning theories
…all behavior is learned step by step
conditioning
the processes by which responses become linked to particular stimuli
classical conditioning - respondent conditioning
a person or animal is conditioned to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus
operant conditioning - instrumental conditioning
learning process by which a particular action is followed by something desired – the person will repeat the action
reinforcement
A technique for conditioning behavior where behavior is followed by something desired

12. Behaviorism Theory Social Learning Theory
an extension of behaviorism that emphasizes the influence that other people have over a person’s behavior
modeling
The central process of social learning by which a person observes the actions of others and then copies them

13. Cognitive Theory The third grand theory
emphasized the structure and development of thought
processes

14. Cognitive Theory Jean Piaget’s 4 Stages sensorimotor preoperational
concrete operational
formal operational

15. Cognitive Theory

16. Cognitive Theory Cognitive equilibrium—state of mental balance.
If threatened, how do we achieve equilibrium again?
Assimilation: incorporate new events into existing schemas
Accommodation: change schema

17. Emergent Theories
…multicultural and multidisciplinary , developed not only by men of European ancestry but also by many non-Western, non-White, and female scientists…

18. Sociocultural Theory
an emergent theory that holds that development results from the dynamic interaction between each person and the surrounding social and
cultural forces
Lev Vygotsky

19. Sociocultural Theory cultural variation guided participation
adult responses are shaped by culture
society provides not only customs but also the tools and theories
guided participation
a technique in which skilled mentors help novices lean not only by providing instruction, but also by allowing direct, shared involvement in the activity

20. Sociocultural Theory Zone of proximal development
skills, knowledge, and concepts that the learner is close to acquiring but cannot master without help

21. Zone of proximal development

22. Epigenetic Theory
An emergent theory of development that considers both the genetic origins of behavior (within each person and within each species) and the direct, systematic influences that environmental forces have over time on genes

23. Genetic Adaptation Selective adaptation
the process by which humans and other organisms gradually adjust to their environment
genes for the traits that are most useful will become more frequent, thus making survival of species more likely.

24. What Theories Contribute
Psychoanalytic theory has made us aware of the importance of early childhood experiences.
Behaviorism has shown effect of the immediate environment on learning.
Cognitive theory shows how intellectual process and thinking affect actions.
Sociocultural theory has reminded us of the importance of culture in learning.
Epigenetic theory reminds us of the power of genes and their interaction with the environment.

25. The Nature-Nurture Controversy
The genes that people inherit
Nurture
To all the environmental influences

26. The Nature-Nurture Controversy
Nature and Nurture Always interact
Heredity vs. Environment
How much of any characteristic,
behavior, or pattern of development is
the result of genes and how much is
the result of experience?

27. Theoretical Perspectives on…
Hyperactivity
Nature
They are usually boys who have male relatives with the same problem
They are overactive in every context, home as well as school
They are often calmed by stimulants, such as Ritalin, Adderall, and even coffee
Nurture
The rapid increase in ADHA (from 1 to 5 percent of all U.S. children within the past 50 years) cannot be genetic, since selective adaptation takes centuries
Many environmental factors correlate with ADHD, including crowded homes, television, lead, food additives, and rigid teaching

28. Theoretical Perspectives on…
Homosexuality
Nature vs. Nurture
Children raised by homosexual couples (either adopted or the biological offspring of one of the parents) become heterosexual or homosexual in about the same proportions as children raised by heterosexual and do not seem particularly rebellious or emotionally disturbed.

29. No Answer Yet