Exploring Different Theoretical Approaches: Which Theorist Believed that Development Reflects the Influence of Five Environmental Systems?

Which Theorist Believed that Development Reflects the Influence of Five Environmental Systems?

Ever wondered who first thought that development is a reflection of the environment? That credit goes to none other than Urie Bronfenbrenner. He’s a renowned developmental psychologist who’s best known for his Ecological Systems Theory. In this article, we’ll delve into Bronfenbrenner’s groundbreaking theory and its profound impact on our understanding of human development.

Bronfenbrenner believed that a person’s development was affected by everything in their surrounding environment. He didn’t just focus on the physical environment, either. His theory also took into account social and cultural influences. So, if you’re intrigued by how our surroundings shape us, you’re in for a treat.

In this article, we’ll explore Bronfenbrenner’s theory in detail. We’ll unpack the different environmental systems he identified and discuss how they interact to shape an individual’s development. So buckle up, because we’re about to embark on an enlightening journey into the world of developmental psychology.

Jean Piaget

While Urie Bronfenbrenner emphasized the impacts of the environment on an individual’s development, Jean Piaget presented a different viewpoint. He’s another theorist who looked at the facet of human development from a cognitive perspective. His focus rested mostly on the internal aspects of a person’s mind rather than the external elements.

Piaget argued that children actively construct their understanding of the world. Through experience and interaction, they shape their perception, thus solidifying cognitive development as a vital facet of overall growth. He firmly believed in the core principle of cognitive adaptation. This process involves two primary steps: assimilation and accommodation.

Piaget proposed that cognitive development occurs in four distinct stages:

1. Sensorimotor stage (birth – 2 years)
2. Preoperational stage (2 – 7 years)
3. Concrete operational stage (7 – 11 years)
4. Formal operational stage (11 years and beyond)

Each stage identifies the way information is processed and understood, and how it influences an individual’s development.

Lev Vygotsky

Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development, perhaps less widely known than Piaget’s, nonetheless provides a crucial contribution to our understanding of how individuals grow and learn. He viewed development as fundamentally a social process, differing from Piaget’s focus on the individual’s cognitive adaptation.

Sociocultural Theory

Vygotsky proposed the Sociocultural Theory which gives prominence to social interaction as a vital ingredient in the process of cognitive development. He suggested that complex cognitive processes begin as social activities. As children actively engage in their cultural, social, and historical contexts, they naturally acquire the ways of thinking integral to their communities.

In contrast to Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, Vygotsky didn’t advocate for a universal cognitive development pathway for all children. He argued that development differs across various cultural and environmental contexts. This perspective, therefore, puts substantial emphasis on the crucial role of cultural instruments, symbols, and indigenous practices in shaping cognition.

Zone of Proximal Development

At the core of Vygotsky’s theory is his concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The ZPD refers to the difference between what a learner can do independently and what they could do with guidance and encouragement from a skilled partner. It’s the space where most sensitive instruction or guidance should be given – allowing the child to develop skills they will then use independently.

Vygotsky believed that learning precedes development within this zone. In this respect, he again departs from Piaget who held that a child’s potential for learning is determined by their developmental level.

Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson, a German-American development psychologist, also made major contributions to the field of human development. Like Piaget and Vygotsky, he emphasized the importance of cultural and social influences. However, Erikson’s theory differed in the respect that it examined development across the entire lifespan, from infancy to old age.

Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erikson is perhaps most well-known for his theory of psychosocial development. He proposed a series of eight stages that individuals pass through in their lifetime, each marked by a unique conflict that the individual must resolve.

At its core, Erikson’s psychosocial theory is shaped around the idea that an individual’s identity is influenced not only by personal experiences but also by societal factors. His stages of development include –

• Infancy (Trust vs. Mistrust)
• Early Childhood (Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt)
• Preschool Age (Initiative vs. Guilt)
• School Age (Industry vs. Inferiority)
• Adolescence (Identity vs. Role Confusion)
• Young Adulthood (Intimacy vs. Isolation)
• Middle Adulthood (Generativity vs. Stagnation)
• Late Adulthood (Integrity vs. Despair)

In each stage, successful resolution of the conflict results in the development of a positive trait or virtue. Failure, on the other hand, could lead to inadequate development or even psychological issues. Erikson’s theory underscores that development is not merely influenced by internal biological processes, but indeed has a substantial sociocultural component. Alongside other theories such as Piaget’s cognitive perspective and Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, Erikson’s psychosocial approach creates a more comprehensive picture of human development.