PERSPECTIVAS TEÓRICAS QUE ESTUDIAN EL DESARROLLO HUMANO

Understanding Human Development

Overview of Human Development Theories

• Human development encompasses a series of changes experienced throughout life, extensively studied across various fields.

• Five main theories from psychology help in understanding human development: Psychoanalytic Theory, Learning Theory, Cognitive Theory, Contextual Theory, and Evolutionary Theory.

Psychoanalytic Theory

• Sigmund Freud's Psychosexual Development theory suggests that unconscious forces shape development; individuals must overcome challenges at each stage for successful progression.

• Freud's stages include:

• Oral Stage (0-18 months): Focus on oral gratification.

• Anal Stage (1.5 to 3 years): Control over bowel movements.

• Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years): Pleasure centers on the genitals.

• Latency Stage (7 years to puberty): No specific pleasure zone.

• Genital Stage (adolescence onward): Associated with physical changes and mature sexual relationships.

Erikson's Psychosocial Development

• Erik Erikson expanded on Freud with eight stages of psychosocial development; the first five focus on childhood through adolescence:

• Stage 1 (0-18 months): Trust vs. Mistrust.

• Stage 2 (2-3 years): Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.

• Stage 3 (3-5 years): Initiative vs. Guilt.

• Stage 4 (6-12 years): Industry vs. Inferiority.

• Stage 5 (12-18 years): Identity vs. Role Confusion.

Learning Theory

• According to Papalia et al., learning is central to development, emphasizing two key theories: Behaviorism and Social Learning Theory.

• Behaviorism includes classical and operant conditioning as mechanisms of learning.

• Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that behavior is learned through imitation and observation of role models in society. Individuals act upon their environment while being influenced by it as well.

Cognitive Development Theories

• The cognitive perspective focuses on thought processes influencing behavior; Jean Piaget proposed that cognitive development begins with innate abilities for environmental adaptation:

• Piaget believed children develop independently while Vygotsky emphasized social interaction as crucial for learning organization guided by adults' support.

Contextual and Evolutionary Theories

Contextual Theory

• Urie Bronfenbrenner argued that understanding development requires considering social context; individuals are inseparable from their environments:

• His bioecological model identifies four levels of environmental influence:

• Microsystem: Immediate relationships within an environment.

• Mesosystem: Interactions between different systems affecting the individual directly.

• Exosystem: External environments impacting the individual indirectly without direct involvement.

• Macrosystem: Broader cultural systems interconnected with individual experiences.

Evolutionary Theory