Theories on Child Psychology

Abstract

In this research paper, we will first try to define child psychology in a holistic manner. The main focus of the research is on theories relating to child psychology. This research also aims to critically analyze factors such as environmental, biological factors and congenital factors which have been part of the research relating child psychology. In the end, a conclusion will be drawn which will specify the role of theories in child psychological research.

Table of contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion1

Historical background1

Theory behind child psychology2

Psychoanalytic Theory3

Limitations3

Psychoanalytic-Behavioristic Theories4

Cognitive-Field Theories5

Limitations of Lewin's Cognitive-Field Model5

Neo-Behavioristic Theories5

Conclusion6

Theories about child psychology

Introduction

A child's mind is a very delicate piece of space which is filled with knowledge. Every child is born with some knowledge which is genetically inherited from its Biological parents, but in the next couple of years early childhood experiences play a crucial in the growth and development of the child. Child psychology is a dynamic and comparative study of children's psychological and behavioral changes from birth till adolescence. It not only deals with how children grow physically, but it also deals with their mental, social and emotional development. It tries to explain normal and abnormal behavioral aspects of the children's. Child psychology as a developmental science provides remedial treatments regarding social, emotional and learning problems of children as well.

Discussion

Historical background

The most ancient writers about child psychology are Plato and Aristotle. Plato a Greek philosopher believed in individual differences and education. He considered that every child posses special talent and therefore training should stress those talents while Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed methods for observing children s behavior.

French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau supported Plato's philosophy regarding child psychology. He pointed out that child's talent can only be developed in a nonrestrictive and a supportive environment. In modern times, well known German psychologist Dietrich Tiedemann studied about the growth of intellectual abilities of a child.

A century later, in 1887, British naturalist Charles Darwin authored a book on child abilities by observing the psychological changes of his son during the first two years of his birth. In the nineteenth century, American psychologists conducted an objective research on a number of children's; these researchers found that children can become responsible adults if their early childhood experiences had been ideal.

In the early 1990's a test known as Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test was proposed by an American psychologist Lewis Terman which was marked as a starting point for studies relating to intellectual development of children's. Similarly in the year 1920 an American psychologist Arnold Gesell founded a research center at Yale University in order to systematically study social, physical and emotional achievements of children of several age groups. In the early years most of the theories regarding child psychology centered on the early childhood experiences that children's usually face but in recent time's child psychological research has incorporated environmental factors as well. Sigmund Freud and John B Watson have emphasized the role of environmental variables in shaping a child's development (Wieten, 1998).

Theory behind child psychology

As child psychology is more ...