Question

Discuss the roles of maturation and learning in human development

Discuss the ways that views about childhood have changed over time as a result of historical and cultural factors.

Discuss behaviorism in terms of the nature vs. nurture issue and the activity vs. passivity issue.

Discuss Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and describe the levels and types of environmental effects that might influence a child’s development.

Answer 1

Role of maturation and learning in human development- When a child borns, he gradually develops. His hands, legs, muscles, brain develops in a similar manner at the different stages. He becomes capable to take part in different activities. This growth is known as maturation.

Learning is a process acquired through practices and experiences. A person gain new knowledge, skills with the help of learning. According to Woodworth and Marquis, " While many animals reach maturity in a few weeks or months after being born, it takes the human being about 18 years and all these years he is learning, what kind of adult he is depends on how well he has grown and how well he has learned."

Maturation and learning are the processes that go together. When a person grow he starts performing several activities and these activities give rise to learning. So whatever the activities a person perform throughout his life since birth are mostly based on maturation and learning. The initial stage of life is completely based maturation only. Learning plays an important role in acquiring skills, understanding and other social activities. So we can say that maturation provides base for learning. The development of an individual is a continuous process. Maturation and learning both are equally important for the development of a person in all aspects.

Changes in childhood over time- Chidhood is a difficult stage. For each person the meaning of childhood is different. Changing about childhood views, there are lot of things to discuss. Today children have different definition of childhood from that they had in early centuries and cultures. Aries has said that major differences between contemporary childhood and childhood in earlier period is the lack of recognition of the concept of childhood. According to him the idea of childhood was non existant in that era. At that time children did not had their different identity. They were considered as small adults. During 18th and 19th centuries the innocence of children was not recognized. After some time the need of the childhood was observed. It was discussed that children are different from adults and they need their own space to be developed.

There is a drastic change in modern society in comparison to olden days. Now there are different laws for children. Now there are rules and regulations to save childhood and to stop child labour. Parents are more aware for their education and development. The ideas for developing childhood has increased with the development of society. So we can say that views about childhood has changed a lot over the centuries and today children are more secure and developed than the earlier time.

Behaviorism in nature vs. nurture issue- Behaviorism refers to an observable activity by an organism. It was founded in 1950s and 60s. The concept behaviorism is greatly affected by nature vs. nurture issue.Nature refers to genetic factors and nurture refers to our environment and experiences. It is a well known fact that nature and environmental factors can not work independently. Many psychologists have said nurture theory is better than nature because in nurture approach positive and negative reinforcement are used. According to behaviorists the discussion is endless. Both hereditary and environmental factors affect a lot to the person.

Activity verses passivity issue- Active learning uses several techinques like discussions, problem solving etc. This is a method that helps in learning. The opposite of it is passive learning where a person receives knowledge. Behaviorists said that in passive learning a person is like an empty thing while active learning has a constructivist perspective. Both are equally important for learning a particular type of behaviour.

Bronfenbrenner Theory- Ecological system theory explains how social relationships and other factors influence a child's development. This theory was given by Urie Bronfenbrenner. According to him a person is greatly influenced by his surroundings. He divided the theory in to five different levels-

• Microsystem- The first level of Bronfenbrenner theory is microsystem. It is a system that has a direct contact with a person like home, day care, school etc. This system includes mainly family, siblings and friends. This microsystem greatly affect the development of a child.
• Mesosystem- The next level is mesosystem. It defines the communications and interaction between the parts of microsystem and this has an indirect influence on a child's behaviour.
• Exosystem- This does not affect a person directly but affects him in a great manner. When a child is affected by parents' behaviour. This is the example of exossystem.
• Macro system- It describes the culture of the individual. A child's school, parents, home, surroundings all are part of it.
• Chronosystem- Negative affects on children due to different sociological reasons come under this section.