Final answer:
Developmental theory has been shaped by key figures like Sigmund Freud, Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, and Lawrence Kohlberg, covering diverse aspects of human growth such as psychosexual, cognitive, and moral development, and debating the nature of change, individual developmental paths, and nature versus nurture.
Step-by-step explanation:
History of and Influences on Developmental Theory
The history of developmental theory encompasses a range of perspectives that consider how individuals grow and change throughout their lifespan. Developmental psychologists have long debated issues like continuity and discontinuity in development, whether there is one common course or many unique paths of development, and the influences of nature versus nurture. Notable contributions to developmental theory include:
- Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development, which articulates how early childhood experiences shape our personalities through stages focused on different erogenous zones.
- Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes the role of culture and social interactions in cognitive development.
- Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory posits that children go through distinct stages of cognitive growth, highlighting the discontinuity in development.
- Lawrence Kohlberg's moral development theory suggests that moral reasoning evolves through stages based on cognitive development.
These theories show the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in human development, and they have been instrumental in shaping contemporary understanding of psychological growth.