Theories of Development Cognitive Theory and Behaviorism ...

Off the five developmental theories, I would like to describe and explain two grand theories, Cognitive theory and Behaviorism. The main concepts of cognitive theory focuses on the developmental process of thinking and how this process affects our actions, attitudes, beliefs and assumptions through a life span. Jean Piaget, Swiss biologist and proponent of cognitive theory, developed a general thesis of cognitive theory; he divided the developmental process of thinking into four stages. He said â€Å"the way people think changes with age as their brains mature and their experiences challenge their past assumptions† (Berger, 8th edition, 2009)† . In my opinion, we use and apply the main concepts of the cognitive theory in everyday life,†¦show more content†¦People in special needs might be different, but they are smart in their own way, amazingly imaginative and very appreciative. Although their life is diverse and uneasy, they always are thankful for another day. They thought me to be a better person and I learned to respect them. These new experiences challenged my past assumptions a nd beliefs. The second theory I would like to talk about is Behaviorism. The main concept of behaviorism is observing human behavior. It is also called a learning theory because it describes the process of learning. Behaviorism is described as a force of habit, meaning that after we learn a certain behavior we repeat it without even thinking about it. The most known proponent of behaviorism was John Watson who believed that scientists should only examine what can be seen or measured, which in this case is a person’s behavior. Another famous behaviorist was Ivan Pavlov, the proponent of classical condition, which is another concept of behaviorism. Classical conditioning focuses on repetition and practice, which Ivan Pavlov proved in an experiment with a salivating dog. B.F. Skinner, one of the most influential psychologists believed in operational conditioning, which explains that consequences, punishment or reinforcement respond to our behavior. I have applied this theory toward my son who is three years old. He is a very curious boy who likes to see how far he can go with his behavior. Because I amShow MoreRelatedBehaviorism Theory On The Theory Of Behaviorism Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the theories we have studied this semester in Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science is the Behaviorism theory. The behaviorism theory states that behaviorism is a theory on learning that only concentrates on noticeably observable behaviors and disregards any independent activities of the mind. The Behaviorism theory was brought up by Burrhus Frederic Skinner. He based this theory on operant conditioning. This theory has a reinforcing stimulus which can be modified into continuousRead MoreComparison Between Behaviorism and Cognitive Theories in Tesol844 Words   |  4 PagesBETWEEN BEHAVIORISM AND COGNITIVE THEORIES IN TESOL After decades of development of learning theories, many approaches have been inspired and researched basing on the two most popular theories, behaviorism and cognitive theories. Because of their div erse significant devotion at a certain period in pedagogical history, these theories have been brought on debate over and over, to answer the fundamental question of what is learned (Navarick, 2002). â€Å"The primary difference between these two theories is theRead MorePsy / 280 Human Growth And Development1029 Words   |  5 PagesDeondra Braden January 19, 2015 PSY/280 Human Growth and Development Human Development Paper As a human race, in most circumstances we all go through similar stages of development. 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I believe this is the right theory because I believe that everything a person does, why they think they way they do, why they do the things they do is becauseRead MoreThe Psychoanalytic Theory Of Human Development Research1074 Words   |  5 Pagesstudies topics like the theoretical perspective theories that are used in human development research. The Psychoanalytic perspective theory focuses on the emotional and social development, Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental theory accents the changes in thinking, while the Behaviorism and Social Learning and the Lifespan perspective discuss many aspects on human functioning (p. 21). These theories allow for a different point of view on development while regarding relative i nfluence of nature andRead MoreA Reflection On Learning Theories939 Words   |  4 Pagesactivities, read literature and continue to learn and to understand child development as all of this ties into learning theories. I believe now that through being a more reflective teacher it has shaped my teaching strategy based on three different learning theories I will reflect on. Behaviorism, constructivism, and cognitivism are relatively common theories used in classrooms as ways to approach student learning. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior, such as being able to follow two step directionsRead MoreSnapshot1702 Words   |  7 Pagesand psychopathology. Freuds theories became very well-known, largely because they tackled subjects such as sexuality, repression, and the unconscious mind as general aspects of psychological development. These were largely considered taboo subjects at the time, and Freud provided a catalyst for them to be openly discussed in polite society. While Freud is perhaps best known for his tripartite model of the mind, consisting of the id, ego, and superego, and his theories about the Oedipus complex, hisRead Morepsy 3601407 Words   |  6 Pages Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Introduction Cognitive Psychology/PSY360 Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes surrounding learning, memory, perception, and thought. Though it is still a relatively new formal branch of psychology, its roots extend back to Descartes who sought a way to explain how the mind worked, proposing the analogy of a â€Å"hydraulic system of nerve function† (Willingham, 2007, p. 26) after he observed animated statuesRead MoreLearning Theories : A Comparison Of Behavioral And Cognitive Views1163 Words   |  5 PagesLearning Theories: A Comparison of Behavioral and Cognitive Views Cognitive and behavioral learning theories tend to dominate modern discussions of learning theories. Employed in both educational and clinical settings, both have important contributions to understanding how and why individuals learn. Is one approach statistically better than the other, or do they each have their own place where one approach may be more effective under specific circumstances? Each theory has supporters who claimRead MorePiaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development830 Words   |  4 Pages The Cognitive Learning Theory came into the forefront of educational psychology predominately in the 1950s. At the end of the era of behaviorism, many theorists questioned whether or not behaviorism fully explained learning. Sure, there was an understanding of observable behaviors, but what about what was going on in the mind? Theorists such as Tolman, Piaget, Vygotsky and Bruner all helped to pioneer a movement away from behaviorism to a cognitive approach (Yilmaz, 2011). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive