Answer to Question #205632 in Psychology for Shenice

Question

In the prescribed book, reference is made to five (5) psychologists with different theories on cognitive development. Discuss the main contribution each has made, using your own words

Answer 1

Erikson’s Psychosocial Developmental Theory

Erik Erikson was a significant figure in psychoanalysis and psychological development. He is also credited with coining the phrase "identity crisis." His psychosocial development hypothesis was at the heart of most of his work. As it became known, Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory provided a framework for organizing human progress through all phases of life into eight discrete phases. The concepts of social interaction and experience are critical to the results of the kid stages and those that follow.

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory

Another significant psychologist and thinker in the field of development was John Bowlby. He also created one of the oldest recognized theories of child development, which is still widely used and cited today. Bowlby said that much child development is based on children's intrinsic urge to create bonds in his Attachment Theory. These bonds can be formed with various people, places, or objects, and they can have a significant impact on life development patterns.

Freud’s Psychosexual Developmental Theory

Sigmund Freud “may justly be regarded the most important intellectual legislator of his age,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Freud not only founded the present area of psychoanalysis, but he also made several other significant contributions to science, including the declaration of several fundamental hypotheses. One of these significant products was Freud's Psychosexual Developmental Theory. He described how child experiences at various ages in infancy significantly influence personality and behaviour patterns in later adulthood. Since then, this broad approach has spawned many research fields and additional academic and corporate institutions.

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory is still widely used in many businesses and professions today. This idea suggests that while direct experience is important for child learning and development, modelling and basic observations are important. Bandura, who is presently Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, is another prominent and pioneering person in psychology.

Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental Theory

According to Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory, children think differently than adults. While this may seem self-evident to some, it was a groundbreaking notion that laid the groundwork for several subsequent theories. This approach split a child's existence into four distinct groups, or phases, each with its own set of key characteristics and weaknesses. The theory's creator, Jean Piaget, was a well-known psychologist and scientist in his day.