Theories Discussion
Here you will answer various questions related to this module and larger societal and cultural trends. I encourage you to include your personal experiences and observations as part of these discussions. You will also read and comment upon the answers of your peers. Your participation in these discussion boards will be evaluated using the rubric provided in the discussion forum within Canvas.
Considering the many theoretical alternatives to the traditional, long-standing models, how do you think the newer theories meet a need in understanding child development and parenting?
Continue the dialogue!! After posting, make sure to comment on at least 2 of your classmates’ posts.
Additional resources below:
Consider Feminist Theory as it applies to child development and parenting. As you read through the linked article, consider the following questions in preparation for the discussion:
How to Raise a Feminist Son – New York Times (Click the link)
Kohlberg’s stages of moral development are often used broadly across developmental science. However, Kohlberg’s premise relies heavily on the experience and expectations traditionally constructed for boys and men. Many women end up “stuck” in lower levels of development, according to Kohlberg’s theory, due to the differences in socialization and more tendency to focus on caring and responsibility for others. Please view the following video with a description and examples of how Gilligan’s theory differs from that of Kohlberg.
Carol Gilligan’s Theory of Moral Development (click the link)
In the following article, a theoretical framework is discussed that involves 3 levels of racism: institutional racism, personally mediated racism, and internalized racism. The author uses a gardening metaphor to explain the different types, and we can directly relate this example to what we might see in child development.
Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale (click the link)
Arnelle Hall
The resource I resonated with the most was the Ted talk about intersectionality. As an African American female, it is very hard trying to elevate myself onto an equal playing field because I am at a double disadvantage. I feel like African American women are looked over in so many ways by society but these problems can’t be addressed because as the video stated, people will only address one at a time when in reality, both of them are a part of my identity at the same exact time. I hope that as this becomes a bigger topic things will change. I thought the Ted talk was very moving especially at the end when all of the Black women killed by police brutality were honored.
The theory that made the most sense to me was Piaget’s model because it used age groups a child goes through and pairs them with common developmental milestones that we often celebrate in society. For example, the sensorimotor stage (birth-2) can be identified by object permeance. The pre-operational stage (2-7) can be identified by language development and asking questions. The concrete operational stage (7-11) can be identified by inductive reasoning. The last stage, the formal operational stage (12+) can be identified by understanding abstract feelings such as love and success.
I recently became an auntie. My nephew will be 1 years old in March. I can relate to this because I have seen him develop some of the milestones for the sensorimotor stage. He uses his senses a lot to try and understand the world around him. One example would be him grabbing anything in front of him and shaking it to see if it makes noise or putting it in his mouth to see what it tastes like.
Ayaka Motoki
Through watching the video, I believe the new family style (shown in the video) in our modern world could affect children in many different ways. Gillian’s theory in analyzed based on the traditional family roles, where girls tend to have interpersonal relationships with others, while boys act justly to avoid inequality. However, family that does not necessarily have one mother and one father might have different effect to their children, perhaps in a better way. As explained in the video, girls tend to be interpersonal because they are closer to their mother who teaches about the community and human relationships. If there is no distinguished role of teaching these in a family due to having more than one mother or father, both girls and boys will be taught the importance of moral stages, which will benefit both of them since it does not focus on based on children’s gender. I have a similar experience in my childhood since I lived with my mother and my grandparents. They did not try to teach both my brother and I differently based on our gender but rather the same. That is why I believe both of my brother have similar personalities and I consider my brother to be a very caring and kind to others.