PSY217 | Human Growth & Development Module 3: The Play Years Bubbles in the Bowl: Using Developmental Theory to Design Potty Training Potty training a child is an important, and sometimes stressful,...

PSY217 | Human Growth & Development

Module 3:  The Play Years

Bubbles in the Bowl: Using Developmental Theory to Design Potty Training

Potty training a child is an important, and sometimes stressful, milestone for both parent and child. Scores of products and training schedules have been touted as breakthroughs over the years, with some claiming that a child can be trained by the age of 1, and in only a few days.

This exercise is designed to help you bring the major developmental theories to life by considering how parents, working from each of the grand and emerging theoretical perspectives, would be advised to toilet train their child. For each theory, briefly state:

• 
  developmental issues
  that might influence toilet training (e.g., muscular control, cognitive maturity)


• 
  practical tips
  for promoting success (e.g., pour colored shampoo in the toilet so that urinating causes colorful bubbles to form)


• possible
  causes of failure
  (e.g., neural immaturity, cultural values)

1. Psychoanalytic theory


2. Behaviorism


3. Cognitive theory


4. Sociocultural theory


5. Universal theories (humanism and evolutionary theory)