Psychology Theories



Psychology Theories

Introduction

The subject of psychology has presented many theories helping in child's learning and development. Among them, three theories are discussed in this paper which is Bowlby's attachment theory, Kohlberg's theory of moral development and Piaget's theory of cognitive development. The aim of the paper is to have an overview of these theories and their affect on the child development related to different cultures and practices and to discuss a few personal experiences and examples.

Bowlby's attachment theory

The theory by Bowlby suggests that the children are biologically pre-planned to make attachments with others and they help other survive. The attachment is found in young ones and is known to make their value of surviving increased. It was believed by Bowlby that the behaviors of attachment are instinctive and they are activated when the conditions are threatened through the achievement of separation, fear, proximity and insecurity. Bowlby also suggested that children have a natural fear from strangers. They have special contact and innate behaviors which help them ensure proximity with their mothers and mother figure. In the evolution of human species, it is known that those children who have contact with their own mothers are known to have a high survival rate. It is necessary for both mother and children to stay in close contact to fulfill their biological needs. Attachment behaviors work like in same pattern and share the same function. The care giving is simulated by adults when the infant produces social releaser such as crying and smiling (Bretherton, 1992).

Care and responsiveness is the main determinant of attachment. Initially, only one attachment determinant is formed by the infant and the attachment figure secures the child and act as a secure base. Future social relationships are based on the attachment relationship. According to Bowlby theory, a child has the need to get attached with one attachment figure who is usually the mother. Bowlby suggested that it is very important that for first two years, the child must continue to receive care from the attachment figure. There are chances that deprivation of maternal care may lead the child to face increased aggression, delinquency, depressed, reduced intelligence and affectionless psychopathy. The infant is able to develop an internal working model with the attachment relationship with the primary caregiver (McLeod, 2007).

As for the personal child experience, having an African, and Mexican and American Indian culture this theory works the same for every child whether the child be of any culture. The child will have a personal attachment with the mother as an attachment figure. The first learning institute of the infant will be the personal attachment figure. As per the cultural influences on mothers, the same will be inherited by the child in one's first two years.

All three cultures, i.e. Africa, Mexican and American Indian accept this theory because a relationship between a mother and an infant is universal. The children who were unfortunate to have their mothers died at delivery time or were left behind by their mothers ...