Piaget’s theory tries to explain the development process in human beings and how the environment humans are exposed to during early childhood development affects human intelligence. However, his work is motivated and pioneered by a Swiss psychologist who came up with the theory. The theory tries to explain how the early childhood experiences and environment plays a virtue role in the development of human intelligence. In this theory, there is an emphasis on the role childhood experiences play in enhancing reasoning, good memory and perception. The theory was later known as the developmental stage due to the emphasis that it tries to make associating early childhood experiences with intelligence and shaping individuals into having the different personalities they acquire as they grow up. According to these personalities, people’s characters are shaped through the environment that they are brought up in (Colwell, & Richardson, 2002). The environment is an influential factor since it has great significance in shaping people into the individuals they become in later life. This theory received a lot of reviews and has had a lot of influence on how parents mentor their children. It is through this theory that parents are taking keen interest in the various aspects that surround their children and may have an influence on their personalities when they grow up.
Erickson’s physiological development theory is aimed at evaluating the first eight stages that are significant in the development process from childhood to adulthood. It is made clear in this theory that there is a need for every person to undergo these stages in order to overcome them so as to become better persons in future. If individuals are not able to undergo and to successfully encounter the challenges that are visible in these stages of development, there is a likelihood of them recurring as problems in their future lives. Erickson tries to state that the society plays a significant role in helping individuals to pass a certain stage successfully in their life. If an individual manages to undergo a certain stage successfully, it is evident that they are more likely to acquire a virtue that may be relevant to them in helping to overcome future challenges. The virtues achieved will have a significant role in ensuring that individuals are equipped with the right virtues to address issues that may arise in the future. For example, trust is a virtue that is acquired in a particular stage. If an individual acquires trust, he will be able to trust all people that he is constant contact with them. It is, therefore, evident that this physiological stages theory by Erickson has a significant influence on individuals’ personalities and future characters.
Vygotsky development theory emphasizes on the need for social interactions. His theory is based on Piaget theory where he talks about the role early childhood development plays on ensuring that people are natured in such way that they will have a good personality. However, despite the support that Vygotsky has on the Piaget theory, he makes it clear that there is need for social interaction to ensure that individuals are able to acquire characteristics that will enable them to maintain good relations with other members of the society (Karpov, 2005). It is through social interactions that people are able to acquire virtues that will help them in identifying characteristics and virtues that are desirable in the society. Failure to acquire good social interactions will ruin damage people’s personalities in future.
The Kohlberg‘s theory is also based on the physiological development theory which was developed by Piaget. The theory is based on moral reasoning where there are developments stages that have been made to try and relate to moral dilemmas that are encountered in the development process. These moral judgment developments go further to explain details that Piaget had failed in addressing. The stages of moral development are; pre-conventional morality, conventional morality and post-conventional morality. These different moral stages try and give account of the different concerns that are there regarding morality and judgment. There are detailed examples that are there to give an account of how different individuals that try and justify whatever they did while placed in similar moral challenges. There are critics that have been made regarding this theory by Kohlberg. This is due to the approach it takes in trying to give justifications to actions that have been made out of caring. Critics state that there is no justification for going against the set moral standards.
Erickson’s stages of development are relevant in my work since they help in bringing the right aspects that are relevant in helping me give a clear review of the kind of physiological development process that influence the different personalities that individuals within a society have. These stages have been relevant to me as an educator since I am able to address and help individuals who may lack virtues that are relevant in addressing challenges that may recur in future since they skipped a different stage of development. It is made clear through Erickson’s theory that there are virtues that are acquired after successfully undergoing the different stages of development. If learners and other individuals within the society are able to undergo the different development stages successfully, they well equipped to address different challenges that may arise in the future and are able to develop good personalities. As an educator, I do understand the role the society plays in nurturing people into having the unique personalities they have.
Jane, who is a learner under me, has been able to be trustful this is attributed to the role her mother played in ensuring that she was able to gain her trust. This is an essential factor that is required in creating hope that is essential in later developments. Having acquired hope and trust, she has been able to be hopeful and gain courage to face the world. This development stage is experienced at infancy to the age of two years. She is able to be comfortable with herself and her personality; this is evident in the way she conducts herself and interacts with other individuals. It is clear that during the age of two to four years, which is a development stage, she acquired will where she is able to be okay with herself. She is also to exhibit other virtues such as purpose where she is able to be okay and confident in herself through having proper understanding of what is morally acceptable and she does not feel guilty of things that are not wrong. This is clear in the way she expresses herself and gives accounts of her encounters. This makes it clear that she was able to undergo the development of the age four years to five years successfully. At the age of five to twelve years, she was able to built competence where she believes that she is able to conquer all challenges. It is also clear that she currently exhibits fidelity where she has identified herself and is able to know what she wants to become in the world.
References
Colwell, R., Richardson, C. P., & Music Educators National Conference (U.S.). (2002). The new handbook of research on music teaching and learning: A project of the Music Educators National Conference. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Karpov, Y. V. (2005). The neo-Vygotskian approach to child development. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
