Psychological Theories and Psychiatric Models for Human Growth and
Development through
the
Life Span
ABSTRACT
The Psychological Theories and Psychiatric
Models are presented
to study its implications to the human growth and development
through the life span. There are situations and conditions in the study of
human behavior that are reflective to the life experiences. The psychological
theories that are comprehensively given to study its relationship to the human
growth and development are following: (1) Psychoanalytical Theory of Sigmund
Freud; (2) Social Theories; (3) Interpersonal theory; (4) Behavioral Theories;
and (5) Cognitive Theories and Therapy.
The
Psychoanalytical Theory is reflected from the study of Sigmund Freud to address
the concern on behavior, social roles, functioning, unconscious process and
even on inner life experiences. He proposed hypothetical structures in
psychology such as the id, the ego,and the superego-
to explain his observation that behaviors are a result of conflicts among the
needs of the individual, the restriction of the environment, and internalized
moral values. Sigmund Freud provides insights on the psychosexual theories that
incorporate the features and characteristics on growth and development along
critical experiences, developmental task, major characteristics and other
possible personality traits. The stages of psychosexual growth and development
are : 1) Oral Stage (birth-18 months) ; 2) Anal Stage ( 13 months -3 years) ;
3) Phallic (3-5 years) ; 4) Latency ( 6-12 years); 5) Prepuberty and Adolescence (12-15
years); and 6) Genital ( 15 years- adult).
On Social Theories
reflect significant social interactions that govern development milestones that
influence adaptation across the life span. These theories also focus on
challenges and achievements of each developmental stage and their impact on
resolving the next stage.It provides an understanding
the various life experiences including the various human responses across the
life span and the whole personality. The social theories included in the study
of human responses are 1) Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory which presents developmental stages and its implications on the area of conflict and
resolution, virtues or qualities, positive and negative behaviors, including
the identified institutions; and 2) Analytical
Therapy ( Carl Gustav Jung) on human psyche.
Interpersonal Social Theory emphasizes the importance of
social forces or what one does in relation to other rather than internal or biological
factors. Those who advocated the
interpersonal social theories are
; 1) Alfred Adler ; 2) Harry Stack Sullivan; and 3) Karen Horny.On
attachment theory of Bowlby and Ainsworth provides
discussion primarily the tie between a child and her caregiver as its evolves
the biological adaptive process including observable attachment on the
emotional and physiological development of infants and children.
The behavioral theories assume a learning model of human behavior that
differs from the intrapsychic or disease model of
mental disorders. These theories are
reflected on the works of1) B. F. Skinner ; and 2) A.
Bandura and R.H. Walters A. Bandura
and R.H. Walters. The basic concepts of
behavioral conditioning are also presented in relation to stimulus,
response, and reinforcement.
The last discussion provides
information about the cognitive
theories that involve mental processes, such as thinking, remembering,
attending, planning, wishing, and fantasizing in relation to self, others, and
the future. The prominent proponents of this theory are Aaron Beck and Albert
Ellis . The Cognitive Therapy addresses the person’s cognitive organization and
structure, which are biologically and socially influenced. Finally, cognitive development provides the analysis
between action and thought which this study presents the ideas of Jean Piaget.
There is also a part to study cognitive development on the mental disorders on
neurotransmitters such as dopamine (DA), norepinephrine
(NE), serotonin (5-HT), and gama-amino-butyric acid
(GABA).
