PSYCH 2AA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Tabula Rasa, Lead Paint, Synaptic Pruning
9 Dec 2014
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Historical views of children and childhood: plato and aristotle both believed that schools and parents are responsible for teaching self-control. Also, over-discipline stifles children"s initiative and individuality: aristotle (382-322bc) and locke (1632-1704, denied existence of innate knowledge. Experiences trigger knowledge from birth: parents should provide and be responsive to children"s needs. Theory organised set of ideas designed to explain and make predictions. Leads to testable hypotheses that are confirmed or rejected: biological perspective, intellectual, personality, physical and motor development is determined by biological plan (i. e. genes, maturational theory. Development is seen from an evolutionary perspective. Behaviours are adaptive; they have survival value. E. g. infants clinging, grasping and crying elicit caregiving from adults. Development is programmed so that some kinds of learning can only occur at certain ages: critical period time when a specific learning can take place, not before or after, e. g.
