Five Theories Of Human Development Essay

In our last class, we discussed five different theories about how we, as humans, develop. Along with that, we talked a little about each of the theorists that are associated with the different theories. Environmental learning, biological maturation, cognitive, humanistic, and psychoanalytical. The theories about how we develop are all very different and definitely have aspects to them that resonates with me and make a lot of sense. I truly believe that the debate as to which theory is correct will forever be on going. The way that someone develops and turns out as a person is completely different in each case.

For me, the cognitive theory makes the most sense. It touches on the sides of nature and nurture, which is irrefutably part of a developing human. On the nature side, genetics are what makes you who you are physically. Eye color, hair color, height, etc. On the other hand, you have the nurture side of the debate. Your environment has the greatest impact on one's development. This is something else that can’t be denied. Your SES, family dynamics, or even a traumatic childhood event. All of these things shape someone into the person that they become. Genetically speaking, we don’t have a say in what we look like when we are developing in the womb. As a small child, we also can’t help

what happens to us when we’re young and vulnerable, and if something is going to happen that will forever affect us.
I got my blonde hair and blue eyes from my mother. I have my father’s nose and chin. These are things that I have today, because of the DNA I have in me. I didn’t have a say as a child what my hair and eye color were going to be naturally. The nature theory will always be relevant because of our appearances. Yes, there are body modifications that can be made, but those decisions to change are made based upon one’s unhappiness towards something their genetics originally gave them. That also touches on the nurture theory.
It’s possible that someone who decides to make a body modification does it based upon the socially constructed ideology of ‘perfection’. Our environment and everything that happens to us until the day we die, continue to change who we are. Sometimes it’s for the better, and other times for the worst. For me, my parents have shaped me into a better person ever since the day I was born. They have always pushed me to do my best, and be the best person that I possibly can be. The have passed on traits to me that they have found to be beneficial to them. I was born into a comfortable SES, therefore giving me the will and want to work for everything that I want. That has given me the goal to know where I want to be financially when I am on my own.
I think it’s important to know the main points from each of the different theories because that shapes how we look at things in regards to life.

I feel comfortable speaking about Freud because I have some prior knowledge of him and his ideas from an Intro to Psychology class I took in eleventh grade. Freud has the idea that everything that helps us become who we are is because of dark and disturbing thoughts our unconscious mind may bring up. For anyone that agrees with Freud, or goes about life with his ideologies, they would have a different view than someone who agrees with the humanistic theory. They might say that you are who you are because you made yourself that

way.
I only had one question while writing this reflection and thinking about the different theorists. What happened to them during their childhood to make them have the theories that they do? I know that for Freud, he had a very dark childhood. Things happened to him because if his environment. He grew up in a dark time where he and his family were scrutinized for being Jewish. These unfortunate happenings lead to Freud believing that every other human has dark and disgusting thoughts coming from their unconscious mind. I haven’t ever had any other knowledge about different theorists, so my question still remains at large.