The Nature of Child Development Essay - 1172 Words

Human development has been a subject of interest since ancient Greece and Rome. Different approaches derive from two basic directions: the nativists` and empiricists` ones. The latter method is to regard human development as a gradual change which has been influenced by the individual`s experience .On the other hand, the former approach has found its roots in the biological structure of the human organism which considers our development as a series of stages. However, referring to human development only as continuous or gradual would produce inconsistent and insufficient understanding of the developmental process .As a result, combining ideas of both viewpoints(continuity and phases) will provide a more explicit of understanding of the†¦show more content†¦He distinguishes eight psychological crises(stages) which directly relates to the social requirements and emotional bonds. Human psychosocial development is seen as unique which offers a great range of diversity. Consequ ently, this variety provides an opportunity of establishing universally necessary and sufficient phases of development. The eight stages form a circle which demonstrates the similarity between the first stage ( trust vs mistrust) and the last one(integrity vs despair).In other words, the human beings strive for integrity which could be reached only by passing successfully through all the phases which is a lifelong experience. Concluding from this, human development is a continuous process which is constructed by different phases. The stages role is to present more concrete and deeper understanding of this process. Another perspective is also socially orientated but it plays a considerable emphasis on the historically-cultural influences. Lev Vygotsky (1978) also explains human development as a sequence of phases. A greater interest is placed upon the formation of higher psychological processes. As a result, the importance of the language is greater than in any other theory. The ability of performing practical tasks by applying speech for their solution is considered as a higher psychological process which is unique for the humansShow MoreRelatedInfluence of Nature Versus Nurture on Child Development1202 Words   |  5 Pages Nature as well as nurture can affect the child development. There are many factors that determine the development of a child. Many theories that are proposed by psychologist are used to explain the process of child development. Berndt (1992) explained nature as the impact of the genetic inheritance or heredity of a person during development. Based on Kail’s (2010, p. 135) study, â€Å"research reveals consistent genetic influence in many psychological areas, including personality, mental abilityRead MoreEssay about Child Development, Nature vs Nurture801 Words   |  4 Pages. The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. 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