Purchase Solution

Stage Theories of Development

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

As we have learned about throughout the course, there are many theorists who feel that if individuals do not progress through a series of changes, in a certain order, than their development will be affected.

Take Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development for example. There are 4 stages of cognitive growth - sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and then formal operational thinking. If certain concepts are not mastered (i.e. egocentrism and conservation in the preoperational stage) then advancement to the next stage will be compromised.

The same can be said for socioemotional development. Erikson's theory asserts that individuals are experiencing sets of crises throughout their development and successful resolutions of these crises will affect movement through his remaining stages. For example, the central crisis is early adulthood is intimacy vs. isolation. In order to successfully navigate this stage, a young adult must find a partner to share intimacy with or be faced with being isolated from society. Successful resolution of this stage is based on resolution of the identity vs. role confusion crises that was confronted in adolescence. Individuals who have not established an identity in adolescence would be unable to establish intimacy in young adulthood.

These are just two examples but can you think of other theories and examples mentioned in the readings that support this "stage" idea? And do you agree or disagree with the concept of stages?

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

This solution discusses stages theories, and if one agrees or disagrees with the idea of stages.

Solution Preview

Let's take a closer look.

RESPONSE:

1. These are just two examples but can you think of other theories and examples mentioned in the readings that support this "stage" idea?

Although I do not know exactly which theories that you examined in your readings, there are several stage theories of development in addition to Piaget and Erikson to consider, including:

? Sigmund Freud's Psychosexual stages.
? Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development (1987)
? Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
? Jane Loevinger, Stages of ego development.
? Margaret Mahler's psychoanalytic developmental theory
? James Marcia's theory of identity achievement and four identity statuses .
? Maria Montessori's sensitive periods of development.
? Michael Commons' Model of Hierarchical Complexity.
? James W. Fowler's stages of faith development theory.
? Clare W. Graves' Emergent Cyclic Levels of Existence Theory.
? Judith Rich Harris' Modular theory of social development.
? Don Beck and Chris Cowan, Spiral Dynamics.

Freud proposed five stages of development, including oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. According to Freud, if, during any stage, the child experienced anxiety in relation to that drive, the ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Developmental Psychology

This quiz explores the concepts, theories and key terminology associated with human psychological development.

Childhood Disorders (Axis 1)

This quiz is designed to test one's knowledge on childhood Principle Disorders found in the DSM-IV (1994). This is a good quiz for those who wish to pursue a career in child assessment or child development. Good luck.

Common Characteristics of Qualitative Methods

This quiz evaluates the common characteristics seen in qualitative methodology.

Positive Psychology

A quiz related to the introductory concepts of positive psychology.

Can you name these types of cognitive distortions?

In each mini-scenario, can you identify the type of cognitive distortion being displayed? All of us are subject to cognitive errors, biases, and distortions throughout our daily lives.