Based on the provided reference, while there are several influential theories, two major systems of thought regarding development include the cognitive-development approach and the learning approach. These can be understood as distinct ways of understanding how people change over time.
Major Theories of Development
Here's a look at the two main theories, with additional context based on the provided information:
| Theory | Description | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive-Development | Emphasizes how thinking and problem-solving skills evolve over time, usually through stages. | Internal mental processes, stages of development, understanding the world. |
| Learning | Focuses on how experiences and environmental factors lead to changes in behavior. | External influences, observable behaviors, associations and reinforcements. |
Understanding the Theories
The reference also mentions other important systems: psychoanalytic and systems theories. But to address the question directly, we will focus on the two most significant as indicated by the reference when asked for two major theories, which are cognitive-development and learning.
-
Cognitive-Development Theory:
- This theory is interested in how our thinking evolves as we get older.
- It proposes that children progress through stages of understanding the world, each with its own kind of thinking.
- For example, Piaget’s theory outlines stages of cognitive development, such as sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages.
-
Learning Theory:
- This theory emphasizes that behavior changes due to experiences.
- Learning happens through associations (classical conditioning), reinforcements/punishments (operant conditioning), and observations (social learning).
- For example, a child learns to say "please" because they are rewarded with a treat every time they say it.
Practical Insights and Examples:
-
Example 1: A child learns to ride a bike. The cognitive-development approach would look at the child's improving spatial understanding and coordination skills as they mature, while the learning theory focuses on the practice, encouragement, and trial and error that results in learning to balance.
-
Example 2: Social interactions. A cognitive-development approach considers how children's understanding of others and their feelings changes with age. A learning theory would see that children develop specific social behaviours based on modeling the behaviours of others and getting praise.
It is important to note that the reference mentions the theories as “systems of thought” which then give rise to more specific theories of development. In this context, “cognitive-development” and “learning” act as a lens through which to study development which encompasses a variety of associated perspectives.
