Comparing Piaget And Erikson's Stages Of Psychological Development

Theories of Development

Ellen F. Gossett

Trevecca Nazarene University Abstract

There are three key development theories covered this week. All are similar in their definitions of development and stages or phases of human aging and cognitive skills. Each takes a slightly different stand on key teachings, but key to all are the ability to understand the difference between right and wrong actions. Theories of Development

There are three main developmental studies covered this week of psychological development are Piaget’s theory, Kohlberg’s theory, and Erik Erikson’s stages of personal development. Development is defined as the changes that happen to a person over the course of their lifespan as they age. Development is usually classified

He was the first to try and persuade his fellow psychologists that children are not adults and do not think as such. As part of his testing into how children think, he discovered that children’s thinking changed as they get older and as they relate to the world they are in. Piaget thought that children develop mental models that represent the world as they view it. Piaget taught that children develop assimilation or broadening of their world’s to accept new information. He also taught that children use accommodation to modify their own world to incorporate new information. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development consists of four stages. They are called the Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete operational, and Formal Operational. Sensorimotor takes place during the first two years of life and is primary for sensory and motor functions. The Preoperational stage is ages two years to seven years and during this period children develop language skills and can think about objects and sometimes develop imaginary playmates. The Concrete operational phase is during the ages of seven to eleven years. Piaget believed that children gain the capacity at that time for true mental operations. Formal operational begins at age eleven and continues into adulthood where children grow to have abstract

He was a follower of Piaget’s work but his theory focused more on moral reasoning. Moral reasoning is the ability to know right from wrong and to be accountable for ones actions. There are three levels to Kohlberg’s theory which are preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Preconventional level is where making choices around right or wrong is based on the resulting consequences. Conventional level is where a person can judge and justify their actions. Postconventional level is where actions are based on a person’s personal code of morals and values. Erik Erickson’s stages of personal development can be summarized in these categories; trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame/doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority. Erickson’s pyramid tries to understand how early developments help to shape adulthood and later stages of life. Erikson’s theory is advantageous because it looks at both personality constancy as well as personality changes. Erickson felt that personality is constant due to childhood influences carrying into adulthood. He also taught that personality can change as a direct result to challenges in