Contribution Made to Understanding Child Behavior - Essay Example

Analyze and evaluate the contribution made to understanding child behavior by the three psychologists. Contribution to Understanding Child Behavior Extensive research and contribution have been done by number of philosophers and researchers in order to understand the behavior of children and what influences them. These studies not only help educational institutes but also are also helpful for parents in doing better upbringing of their children. Some renowned contribution has been done by the following three major psychologists. Lev Vygotsky Vygotsky has done substantial contribution in understanding what influences the behavior and mentality of children. He states that culture has two types of contribution on the intellectual development of children. First, children gain a lot of information, knowledge and thinking from their culture. Second, culture provides means to children about how to think and what to think. He further states that children adopt and learn through shared problem solving. However, there is greater responsibility on the person who is guiding a child in the process of problem solving such as parents, siblings, guardians, teacher, peer etc. Speech plays a vital role in transmitting the rich body of information to children, which exists in the respective culture. In addition to that, the own language of a child helps him/ her in intellectual transformation. Children use language for seeking help of others in problem solving, overcoming impulsive action and for controlling their own behavior. Vygotsky states that children use language for assisting themselves by obtaining help of others for problem solving. Jean Piaget Observation of Piaget for children behavior led him to believe that the intellectual development of a child proceeds in four crucial stages. The first stage is the period from birth to age two or until the language starts to appear. During this period, a child is concerned with the actions and movements. Words represent things and objects. At second stage, which is from ages 2 to 7 years, a child becomes able to verbalize successfully and generalize their experience. From ages 7 to 11, children become able to apply reasons and logic to concrete things and experiences. They handle conversations quite properly and give reasoning for a problem. They begin to understand the relationship of time and space. At the fourth stage, which starts from age 11, a child develops the understanding to think beyond immediate experiences. According to Piaget, morality is primarily concerned with the person’s sense of justice and respect of individual’s rules. Piaget states that moral judgments of children change with their age. An older child consider an act with respect to its context whereas, a young child considers an act as right or wrong. Abraham Maslow Maslow has done a lot of work for adults, but he has made significant contributions for understanding the behavior of children as well. Maslow identified five basic needs of humans. They are physiological, safety, love and belongingness, self-esteem and self-actualization. He states that in order to move to a higher need, the basic and lower need must be satisfied. For instance, a hungry child is not likely to make logical curiosity. Starting with the physical well being need of a child, it primarily starts in the arms of his parents. It includes the routine of sleeping and eating and encompasses everything, which includes well-being and comfort. The second need is of love and belongingness, which every human being desires. If a child is rejected then he might seek affection from an astray dog. The third need is of belongingness. Every child calls his siblings, parents with their respective identity such as ‘mama’, ‘big brother’, ‘little sister’ with pride. The need of competence is the strong motivating factor in human behavior. If a child is asked to finish his breakfast before his little brother, then he will try to do so, which brings a sense of achievement in him. A child’s need to know can never be underestimated. Every other child asks many questions in order to explore and gain acquaintance with his/ her external environment. 2. Evaluate the practical applications of each of the three chosen studies in the nursery and classroom. Lev Vygotsky Vygotsky came up with a concept of Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). It is based on the idea that a child’s development is based upon both; by what a child can do when getting help from an adult and what he can do independently. According to Vygotsky, a teacher must construct a curriculum, which includes what a child is capable of doing independently and what kinds of assignments must be given to them, which requires help of an elder. Vygotsky also states that children must be given group activities through which they can learn by getting help from other as well as helping others. Vygotsky does not mean that any child can be taught anything, but only activities and instructions that fall within the ZPD. Jean Piaget In order to apply Piaget’s theory in nursery and classroom, first the Piaget’ developmental theory must be analyzed. Piaget says that children classify objects by color, size, shape or other single characteristics when they are between ages 2 to 7. At this stage, they are concerned with morality and ideological issues. Piaget says that teachers play an active role in mentoring children. Teachers must respect the ideas, opinions and suggestion of children and must take their students seriously. Teachers must also encourage student for learning from their peers. Since different students excel in different areas, therefore it will provide lifelong benefits to the children. In addition to that, children must also be allowed to learn from their mistakes. Piaget believed that children get knowledge about their environment through trial and error. Moreover, teachers must also respect unique abilities, interests and limits of each student rather than enforcing them to learn in a certain style. Abraham Maslow As stated earlier, like the steps of a ladder, each need must be satisfied before proceeding towards the next level need. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be applied in classroom in order to assess courses, lesson plans and educational programs. By asking how well the five needs are being met in classroom and school, educators can evaluate how best all the five major needs at being applied in teaching practices. Teachers and educators must start with the physiological needs of children since it is impossible to take them to next level if students are lacking proper sleep or are hungry or do not have warm clothes. Some schools practice this need by offering breakfast or lunch breaks to their students in order to make sure that their nutrition needs are being met. In United States, after the President signed National School Lunch Act, free lunches or low cost breakfast are provided in some schools. Whether children or adult, everyone needs to feel safe. Therefore, schools must address the personal safety needs of children both physically and mentally. It is impossible to learn or concentrate on something when one is worried that he/ she will be bullied during recess or someone can cause any harm to him/ her while on their way back to home. Teachers must encourage social affiliation. In order to advance to higher needs, a child must feel that he is an accepted member of his class or group. Teamwork, group work and games are some exercises, which can be applied in order to promote this level of need. Since interactions make students feel more included, therefore in nursery and primary classes, children must be involved in in-group activities. Teachers must also promote self-esteem. Children must feel that they are contributing and are valued member of a group. It can be done with simple phrases such as “Remarkable effort”, “Good Job”, “Well Done” etc. For meeting self-actualization need, teachers can assign greater responsibility to good students or students who excel in certain subjects such as English or drawing by telling them to help their other classmates. It will not only enhance their learning experiences but will also make them feel encouraged and valued. Works Cited Gross, R, (2012). The Science of Mind and Behaviour. England: Hodder Education. Sutherland, Z, L. M. Dianne, Arbuthnot, M. H., (1991). 'Understanding Children' In: (ed), Children & Books. 1991: England.   Read More