Theories of Developmental Psychology

by Miller, Patricia H.

• ISBN13: 9780716728467
• ISBN10: 071672846X
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-10
• Publisher: Worth Publishers

Summary

Miller offers the most accessible and comprehensive presentation of the main theories of developmental psychology available today. The superb scholarship and thoughtful analyses includes an evaluation of each theory's strengths and weaknesses, as well as excerpts from the theorists' work.

Table of Contents

Introduction
    What Is a Theory?
    What Is a Developmental Theory?
    Of What Value is a Developmental Theory?
    What Main Issues of Developmental Psychology Do Theories Address?
    
  1. Piaget's Cognitive-Stage Theory and the Neo-Piagetians
     Biographical Sketch
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Description of the Stages
     Memory
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
     Piaget's Own Modifications of His Theory
     The Neo-Piagetians
    
  2. Frued's and Erikson's Psychoanalytic Theories
     FREUD
     Biographical Sketch
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Description of the Stages
     Contemporary Research on Relationships
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
     ERICKSON
     Biographical Sketch
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Description of the Stages
     Contemporary Eriksonian Research
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
    
  3. Social-Learning Theory
     History of the Theory
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Examples of Developmental Research: Moral Judgments and Gender Roles
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
     Social Learning Theory Today
    
  4. Information-Processing Theory

     History of the Theory
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Major Developmental Approaches
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
    
  5. Ethiology and Other Evolutionary Theories
     History of the Theory
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Contributions to Human Developmental Psychology
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
    
  6. Gibson's Ecological Perceptual Theory of Development

     Biographical Sketch
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Developmental Trends
     What Infants Learn About
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
    
  7. Vygotsky and the Socioculturalists
     Biographical Sketch
     General Orientation to the Theory
     Examples of Vygotskian and Other Sociocultural Research
     Mechanisms of Development
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Applications
     Evaluation of the Theory
     Concluding Comments
    
  8. Contemporary Mini-Theories and Emerging Theories
     The Theory Theory
     Modularity Nativism
     Developmental Neuroscience
     Dynamic-Systems Theory
     Developing-Person-in-Context
     Critical Psychology: Are Theories of Development Gendered?
     Position on Developmental Issues
     Concluding Thoughts
    
  9. Reflections
     Developmental Issues Revisited
     A Need for Better Theoretical Accounts of Mechanisms of Development
     Historical Progress of Developmental Theories
     Conclusions