Developmental Psychology Theoretical Approaches Essay -- essays resear

Overview Four theoretical approaches to cognitive development Piagets theoryInformation processing theoriesCore knowledge theoriesSociocultural theories (Vygotsky) General Themes Nature and elevation Continuity vs. discontinuity Active vs passive child Nurture (environment, learning) John Locke (1632-1704) Infants mind as tabula rasa Behaviorism (e.g. Watson, Skinner) Nurture (environment, learning) A childs mind is a ashen book. During the first years of his life, much will be written on the pages. The quality of that writing will affect his life profoundly. Walt Disney Nature (biology, instinct) Children, like plants, precisely bloom, following a timetable laid out in their genes (Gesell, 1933) instinct is stronger than upbringing.--Irish proverb How would a blank slate learn?Word learning by associationWord learning by associationProblems with association? category individual part color state of mindJean Piaget (1896-1980) Constructivist Child plays an diligent role in achiev ing developmental outcomes Stage like discontinuityPiaget the study of stages of intelligence is first a study of the formation of operational structures. I shall define all stage by a structure of a whole, with the possibility of its integration into succeeding stages, just as it was prepared by preceding stages...