Theories of Developmental Psychology 5th Edition by Patricia H Miller ISBN 1429216344 978-1429216340

Clear, engaging, well-attuned to the latest research breakthroughs, Theories of Developmental Psychology is the ideal book for anyone interested in balanced overview of the major schools of thought for child development. In this updated new edition, Patricia Miller offers the most current, comprehensive, and insightful presentation of the main theories of developmental psychology available today. With superb scholarship and exceptional writing, the fifth edition of Theories of Developmental Psychology continues to show students both what is exciting about developmental theory and how it contributes to a broader understanding of developmental psychology. 

Table of contents:

Preface

Introduction
What is a Theory?
What is a Developmental Theory?
Of What Value is a Developmental Theory?
Organizing Information
Guiding Research
What Main Issues of Developmental Psychology Do Theories Address?
What Is the Basic Nature of Humans?
Is Development Qualitative or Quantitative?
How Do Nature and Nurture Contribute to Development?
What Is It That Develops?
Summary
Organization of this Book
Suggested Readings

Piaget’s Cognitive-Stage Theory and the Neo-Piagetians
Biographical Sketch
General Orientation to the Theory
Genetic Epistemology
Biological Approach
Structuralism
Stage Approach
Methodology
Description of the Stages
Sensorimotor Period
Preoperational Period
Concrete Operational Period
Formal Operational Period
An Overview
Memory
Mechanisms of Development
Cognitive Organization
Cognitive Adaptation
Cognitive Equilibration
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Piaget’s Own Modifications of His Theory
The Neo-Piagetians
Robbie Case
Kurt Fischer
Neo-Piagetian Themes
Contemporary Research
Infants’ Advanced Competencies
Domain-Specific Concepts
Mechanisms of Development
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Summary
Suggested Readings

Freud’s and Erikson’s Psychoanalytic Theories
Freud
Biographical Sketch
General Orientation to the Theory
Dynamic Approach
Structural Approach
Topographic Approach
Stage Approach
Normal-Abnormal Continuum
Methodology
Description of the Stages
Oral Stage
Anal Stage
Phallic Stage
Period of Latency
Genital Stage
Case Study of “Little Hans”
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Contemporary Research
Erikson
Biographical Sketch
General Orientation to the Theory
Psychosocial Stages
Emphasis on Identity
Expansion of Psychoanalytic Methodology
Description of the Stages
Basic Trust Versus Basic Mistrust
Autonomy Versus Shame and Doubt
Initiative Versus Guilt
Industry Versus Inferiority
Identity and Repudiation Versus Identity Diffusion
Intimacy and Solidarity Versus Isolation
Generativity Versus Stagnation and Self-Absorption
Integrity Versus Despair
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Contemporary Research
Summary
Suggested Readings

Vygotsky and the Sociocultural Approach
Biographical Sketch
General Orientation to the Theory
Child-in-Activity-in-Cultural-Context As the Unit of Study
Zone of Proximal Development
The Sociocultural Origins of Individual Mental Functioning
Tools Provided by a Culture Mediate Intellectual Functioning
Methodology
Examples of Vygotskian-Sociocultural Research
Private Speech and Inner Speech
Development of Concepts
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
A Related Approach: Developing-Person-in-Context
Contemporary Research
Collaborative Problem Solving
Research Across Cultures
Development Through Narratives and Conversations
Concluding Comments about Contemporary Vygotskian-Sociocultural Research
Summary
Suggested Readings

Social Learning Theory
History of the Theory
Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory
General Orientation to the Theory
Observational Learning
Causal Model Includes Environment-Person-Behavior System
Cognitive Contributions to Learning
Self-Efficacy and Agency
Examples of Developmental Research: Moral Judgments and Gender Roles
Moral Judgments and Behavior
Gender-Role Development
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Contemporary Research
Summary
Suggested Readings

Information-Processing Theory
History of the Theory
General Orientation to the Theory
Humans as Information-Processing Systems
Development as Self-Modification
Task Analysis
Methodology
Major Developmental Approaches
Memory
Metamemory
Strategies: Acquisition, Variability, and Choice
Rules for Problem Solving
Production and Connectionist Simulations of Problem Solving and Learning
Intelligence
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Contemporary Research
Summary
Suggested Readings

Ethology and Other Evolutionary Theories
History of the Theory
General Orientation to the Theory
Species-Specific Innate Behavior
Evolutionary Perspective
Learning Predispositions
Methodology
Contributions to Human Developmental Psychology
Infant-Caretaker Attachment
Peer Interaction
Problem Solving
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Contemporary Research
Summary
Suggested Readings

Gibson’s Ecological Theory of Perceptual Development
Biographical Sketch
General Orientation to the Theory
Ecological Approach: Affordances
Information Is Specified in Stimulation
Humans as Active Perceivers
Methodology
Developmental Trends
Increasing Specificity and Economy in the Perception of Affordances
Optimization of Attention
What Infants Learn About
Communication
Interaction with Objects
Locomotion in the Spatial Layout
Mechanisms of Development
Position on Developmental Issues
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
Applications
Evaluation of the Theory
Strengths
Weaknesses
Contemporary Research
Summary
Suggested Readings

Contemporary Minitheories and Emerging Approaches
The Theory Theory
Modularity Nativism
Dynamic-Systems Theory
Critical Psychology: Are Theories of Development Gendered?
Position On Developmental Issues
Summary
Suggested Reading

Reflections
Developmental Issues Revisited
Human Nature
Qualitative Versus Quantitative Development
Nature Versus Nurture
What Develops
A Need for Better Theoretical Accounts of Mechanisms of Development
Historical Progress of Developmental Theories
The Future of Developmental Theories
Conclusions
References
Name Index
Subject Index