For Life stages 1 & 2: After observing this child for 5 minutes, analyze what yo

Question

For Life stages 1 & 2:

After observing this child for 5 minutes, analyze what you observed using life span development and psychological concepts and theories. Be sure to include name of theorists.

The Observation of Mary Ann

The observation began at:

1:15pm Maryann sat in the sandbox with another little girl each having a shovel in their hands. Marann began to show the other girl her shovel. Julia about 3 years old left the sand box and went over to her mother leaving Maryann in the sand box alone. Maryann became upset and began to frown.

1:16pm Julia returned to the sandbox with a bucket. Maryann began smiling but curiously stared at the bucket. As Maryann sat in the sand she observed as Julia threw sand into the bucket. This appeared to peak Maryann’s curiosity as she looked on excitedly to see what the girl was doing.

1:17pm Maryann reached over and took the bucket and attempted to replicate the actions of Julia. She put the bucket in front of her and began to pick sand up with the shovel. Julia then snatched the bucket away and yelled “No, mine”!

1:18pm Maryann looked over to her mother for a few seconds before reaching to grab the bucket back. Upon doing so, Julia hit Maryann’s hand away from the bucket. Maryann let out a loud echo “No”!

1:19pm Maryann began to cry and throw a fit because she could not get back the bucket from Julia. Maryann let out a loud scream and threw herself down into the sand. Her mother rushed to her and attempted to pick her up, but Maryann kicked and screamed ferociously. Her mother picked her up and walked back over to the bench and Maryann continued to kick, scream and stretch her arms out over her mom’s shoulder pointing at the bucket.

Explanation / Answer

Lifespan development refers to the continual development throughout one's living years. Childhood experiences are majorly and most importantly what shapes one's personality. Mary Ann is a toddler who is yet exploring the world and learning new things. Jean Piaget's Cognitive theory of Development, focuses on how infants go through different stages in cognition. An infant just born exercises his reflexes to communicate what he wants. With time he learns new things which guides his thinking, decision making and problem solving. Marry Ann is found to be very curious when Julia got the bucket back in the sand pit. It was something which was very new for her. It was an object which she was unaware of how to use it. She observed Julia's behaviour and imitated exactly what she did which explains Albert Bandura's Observational Learning. When Marry Ann learnt how to use this new object called a bucket, she assimilated and accommodated the new information learnt which Piaget's theory describes.

A child is called one for a reason. They have to throw a tantrum or a fit for things that they want. That's their way of getting things. Also, a form of communication; crying, grunting, whimpering. However, if a parent, adult or a guardian succumbs to their tantrums, it becomes a learnt behaviour. B.F. Skinner in his theory of Operant Conditioning focuses on how behaviours which are reinforced are repeated more often by the learner. If Marry Ann's mother would have succumbed to her tantrums, by giving her the bucket she wants, Marry Ann would have repeated the same behaviour of crying, kicking and screaming to get what she wants in other situations as well. According to Skinner, behaviours which are undesirable must be punished; negative or positive, and behaviours which are desirable must be rewarded. The learner is most likely to repeat a behaviour which is reinforced with rewards and will discontinue the behaviour which yields or results in punishment.

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