#2. Compare Freud, Erikson, Piaget models for human development

Freud

Believed that human development was fueled by inner forces. He believed the most powerful of all inner forces was our sexual being. Freud linked everything with sex. Freud's theory on human development could be labeled the psychosexual stages of development. Patterns in behavior are predetermined, based on unconscious, biological instinctual drives of the first 6 years. Child/parent early relationship defines successful development, and once formed cannot be adjusted.

Erikson

Erikson first five stages parallel Freud's first five stages. Erikson believed by acquiring certain attitudes and skills makes an individual an active contributing member of society. He also believed that the environment influences that the individual is a part of affects the development of the individual. Believed that each stage of life contains a developmental condition most relevant to that stage, which creates a conflict. Positive or negative resolution of conflict in each stage indicates developmental task completion or lack of. Also believed that a conflict unresolved in a particular stage could later be resolved. Behavior not predetermined. Authoritative parenting throughout childhood most likely to encourage healthy development of child. Can go back to a previous stage.

Piaget-Cognitive Theory.

Piaget focused on the thought process of a person and asserts that an individual influences their own experiences, which determines their development. Believed knowledge is constructed as children explore and manipulate their environment. Born with basic schemata: looking, sucking, grasping, listening. Assimilation occurs when new events are fitted into existing schema. Accommodation occurs when new schema are developed as new information is processed. Both processes essential to cognitive dev.