Psychodynamic Theories

Learning Outcomes

• Use Psychodynamic Theories to Explain Development
  • Lifespan Development Theories
  • Historical Foundations of Lifespan Development Theories
  • Freud's Psychosexual Development Theory
  • Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

Key Concepts

• Theory: Explanation for behavior and events to predict future observations.
• Hypothesis: Testable prediction from a theory.

Areas of Disagreement Among Theorists

• Passive vs. Active: Early experiences vs. current experiences.
• Continuity vs. Discontinuity: Stages vs. gradual change.
• Nature vs. Nurture: Heredity vs. environment.

History of Developmental Psychology

• Late 19th century to early 20th century.
• Key Scholars:
  • John Locke: Tabula rasa concept.
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Innate developmental stages.
  • Charles Darwin: Evolution theory influence.

Early Scholars in Developmental Psychology

• G. Stanley Hall: Child development research.
• James Mark Baldwin: Infant development research.
• John B. Watson: Behaviorism founder.
• Sigmund Freud: Psychoanalytic approach.
• Arnold Gesell: Biological maturation study.
• Jean Piaget: Cognitive development stages.

Freud’s Psychodynamic Perspective

• Personality forms early in life.
• Caregiver interactions impact emotions, behavior, and personality.
• Unconscious motives drive actions.

Freud’s Theory of Personality

• Id: Instincts and drives, pleasure principle.
• Ego: Rational part, reality principle.
• Superego: Rules, conscience.
• Imbalances lead to neurosis.

Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development

• Stages and Fixation:
  • Oral (0-1): Mouth, weaning conflict.
  • Anal (1-3): Anus, toilet training.
  • Phallic (3-6): Genitals, Oedipus/Electra complex.
  • Latency (6-12): Social development focus.
  • Genital (12+): Puberty, mature sexuality.

Defense Mechanisms

• Types:
  • Denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression, sublimation.

Assessing the Psychodynamic Perspective

• Sexual repression context in Freud's era.
• Difficult to test scientifically, considered sexist.
• Importance of early childhood experiences.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

Key Differences from Freud

• Personality develops throughout the lifespan.
• Social relationships emphasized.

Psychosocial Stages

• Trust vs. Mistrust (Hope)
• Autonomy vs. Shame (Will)
• Initiative vs. Guilt (Purpose)
• Industry vs. Inferiority (Competence)
• Identity vs. Role Confusion (Fidelity)
• Intimacy vs. Isolation (Love)
• Generativity vs. Stagnation (Care)
• Integrity vs. Despair (Wisdom)

Assessing Erikson’s Theory

• Strength: Lifespan development.
• Weaknesses: Stage occurrences, cultural focus, gender bias.

Behaviorism and Cognitive Psychology

Behavioral Perspective

• Observable behavior focus.
• Classical Conditioning (Pavlov).
• Operant Conditioning (Skinner).
• Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura).

Piaget’s Cognitive Development

• Stages:
  • Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational.

Information Processing Approaches

• Emphasizes continuous development.

Humanistic, Contextual, and Evolutionary Perspectives

Humanistic Perspective (Carl Rogers)

• Self-actualization, self-concept, ideal vs. real self.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Basic to self-actualization.

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

• Social interaction’s role in learning.

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

• Child and environment interactions.

Evolutionary Perspective

• Genetic inheritance's role in behavior.

Behavioral Genetics

• Explores heredity and environment influence.