Final answer:
Theories of development in psychology include Freud's psychosexual stages, Piaget's cognitive development stages, and Erikson's psychosocial stages. They address physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of growth, with debates on continuous vs. discontinuous development and the influence of nature vs. nurture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Theories of development are a cornerstone of developmental psychology and have evolved to address various aspects of human growth. These theories encompass three developmental domains: physical development, cognitive development, and psychosocial development. Sigmund Freud's psychosexual stages, Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development, and Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages are among the foundational frameworks that outline the process of development across the lifespan.
Continuous versus Discontinuous Development: The developmental process can be viewed as either continuous, with gradual improvements, or discontinuous, occurring in distinct stages as seen in Piaget's theory of cognitive progression through sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational phases.
Psychosocial Theory of Development: Erikson expanded on Freudian thought to craft a holistic theory of psychosocial development, portraying personality development throughout the lifespan and emphasizing social interactions over Freud's psychosexual focus. Erikson identified eight stages encompassing both the negotiation of individual desires and social norms.
It is critical to recognize that development encompasses a multitude of factors, including nature and nurture, and does not strictly adhere to a linear path, as earlier models have been criticized for their inability to represent the diversity and complexity of human development.