There are many different theories about how children develop, including but not limited to innate desires the child is born with, how the parent behaves towards the child, and how people interact with the child. Some of the major names in the field of child development include Freud, Erikson, Watson, Skinner, Bandura, Piaget, Vygotsky and Bronfenbrenner. While all theses theorists help to explain child development, I believe that Watson, Bandura, and Piaget best explain why my parenting choices are the way they are.
John Watson’s theory of behaviorism focuses on the ideas that anything can be learned and the idea that behavior is shaped by other people’s responses (Arnett 22). I believe that his theory plays a role in why I’ve been choosing what I have been for Todd. A prime example of this would be that from the first few months of Todd’s life it was evident that he was an active child (virtual child). Because of this, I chose to encourage his levels of activity. Since Todd seemed to enjoy being active, I kept encouraging it (virtual child). This fits with Watson’s idea that my behavior is shaped by the way others (in this cause, Todd) react (Arnett 22). …show more content…
Since I have not had a child before and have never experienced raising one, all of my experience and best judgment for this course has come from watching family and neighbors raise their children. By gaining my experience in this way rather than experiencing it first hand on my own, I only know what worked best for them. In using my own common sense and minimal knowledge in making choices for Todd, it is entirely possible and very likely that watching them make their decisions has influenced me in making my own
John Watson’s theory of behaviorism focuses on the ideas that anything can be learned and the idea that behavior is shaped by other people’s responses (Arnett 22). I believe that his theory plays a role in why I’ve been choosing what I have been for Todd. A prime example of this would be that from the first few months of Todd’s life it was evident that he was an active child (virtual child). Because of this, I chose to encourage his levels of activity. Since Todd seemed to enjoy being active, I kept encouraging it (virtual child). This fits with Watson’s idea that my behavior is shaped by the way others (in this cause, Todd) react (Arnett 22). …show more content…
Since I have not had a child before and have never experienced raising one, all of my experience and best judgment for this course has come from watching family and neighbors raise their children. By gaining my experience in this way rather than experiencing it first hand on my own, I only know what worked best for them. In using my own common sense and minimal knowledge in making choices for Todd, it is entirely possible and very likely that watching them make their decisions has influenced me in making my own