Insights on Child and Adolescent Development

Sep 23, 2024

Lecture Notes on Child and Adolescent Development

Introduction

  • Speaker: Kathleen Clarabad (Kathmalan)
  • Topic: Introduction to Child and Adolescent Development
  • Overview: Discussion on the biological, psychological, and emotional changes from birth to adolescence.

Child Development

  • Definition: Changes from birth to end of adolescence, leading to increased autonomy.
  • Process: Continuous, predictable, unique course for each child.
  • Interest in Field: Began in the 20th century, initially focused on abnormal behaviors.
  • Educational Shift: From teacher-centered to student-centered learning processes.

Concepts of Child Development

  1. Child: Young person below puberty and legal maturity; below 18 according to the UN.
  2. Adolescent: Transition stage between childhood and adulthood; growth into maturity.
  3. Growth: Physical changes and increase from birth to maturity; separate from maturation.
  4. Development: Gradual unfolding of characteristics, maturity of behavior and personality.

Theories of Human Development

  • Provide a framework for thinking about human growth, development, and learning.

Key Theories

  1. Maturationist Perspective

    • Developed by Arnold Gesell.
    • Biological process, automatic, predictable stages.
    • Assumptions: biological basis, alternating good/bad years, body type/personality correlation.

  2. Psychodynamic Perspective (Object Relations Theory)

    • Developed by Sigmund Freud.
    • Focuses on relationships with others and early experiences affecting later relationships.

  3. Constructivist Perspective

    • Theorists: Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky.
    • Learning through interaction with environment/people.

  4. Cognitive Developmental Perspective

    • Children as active learners; four stages of intellectual development by Jean Piaget.
    • Stages: Sensorimotor, Pre-operational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational.

  5. Behaviorist/Environmentalist Theories

    • Theorists: John Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner.
    • Focus on environmental influences and observable behaviors.

  6. Evolutionary Perspective

    • Application of Darwinian principles to child development.

  7. Information Processing Perspectives

    • Brain as a neural computer, efficiency in processing information.

  8. Socio-cultural Perspectives

    • Developed by Lev Vygotsky.
    • Focus on social interaction, culture, and zones of proximal development.

  9. Developmental/Ecological System Perspectives

    • Developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner.
    • Five levels: Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, Chronosystem.

  10. Lifespan Perspectives

    • Proposed by Paul Baltes.
    • Development continues from conception to death.

  11. Humanist Perspective

    • Developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
    • Emphasis on self-actualization and reaching full potential.

  12. Ethological Theory Perspectives

    • Developed by Konrad Lorenz.
    • Behavior influenced by biology and evolution, critical/sensitive periods.

  13. Multiple Intelligences Theory

    • Developed by Howard Gardner.
    • Different types of intelligences, beyond traditional IQ: Verbal, Logical, Spatial, etc.

Conclusion

  • Understanding child development is essential to appreciate the growth children undergo.
  • Theories provide frameworks and explanations for developmental changes.
  • Look forward to the next module for further learning.

Thank You for Listening!