CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION

• DEFINITIONS

• IMPORTANCE OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

• THEORIES OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY

• Psychosexual theory/ psychoanalytical theory by Sigmund Freud

(1905)

• Psychosocial theory /model of personality development by Erik

Erikson (1963)

• Cognitive theory by Jean Piaget (1952)

Theories of learning and development of behavior

• Hierarchy of needs by Maslow (1954)

• Social learning theory by Bandura (1963)

• Classical conditioning by Pavlov (1927)

• Operant conditioning by Skinner (1938)

Margaret S Mahler’s theory of development

• CONCLUSION

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INTRODUCTION

The developmental changes that occur from birth to adulthood were largely ignored throughout
much of history. Psychological development is a dynamic process, which begins at birth and
proceeds in an ascending order through a series of sequential stages manifesting in various
characteristic behavior. The aim is to understand the various aspects of child psychology, applied
to the dental situation for successful management.

DEFINITIONS

Psychology: it is the science dealing with human nature, function and phenomenon of his soul
in the main

Child psychology: it is the science which deals with the mental power or an interaction
between the conscious and sub-conscious element in a child.

Emotion: An effective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate or the likes are
expressed. A feeling or mood which manifest into glandular or motor activity.

Behavior Behavior is an observable act, which can be described in similar ways by more than
one person. It is defined as any change in the functioning of an organism. Learning as related to
behavior is a process in which past experience or practice results in relatively permanent change
in an individual’s behavior.

(SHOBHA TANDON)

Behavior: It is any change observed in the functioning of the organism.

Behavior management: The means by which dental health team effectively and efficiently
performs treatment for a child and simultaneously instills a positive dental attitude in the child.
(Wright , 1975)

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IMPORTANCE OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

To understand the child better

To know the problem of psychological origin

To deliver dental service in a meaningful and effective manner

Establish effective communication with child and parent

To gain confidence of the child and of the parent

To teach the child and the parent importance of primary and preventive care

To have a better treatment planning and interaction with other disciplines

To produce a comfortable environment for the dental team to work on the patient

Postponement of any procedure because of behavioral disturbances seldom alleviates the

problem and may deprive the child of a sense of mastery of situation

THEORIES OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Child psychology theories can be broadly classified into:

1.Psychodynamic theories

• Psychosexual theory/ psychoanalytical theory by Sigmund Freud

(1905)

• Psychosocial theory /model of personality development by Erik

Erikson (1963)

• Cognitive theory by Jean Piaget (1952)

2. Theories of learning and development of behavior

• Hierarchy of needs by Maslow (1954)

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 • Social learning theory by Bandura (1963)

• Classical conditioning by Pavlov (1927)

• Operant conditioning by Skinner (1938)

2. Margaret S Mahler’s theory of development

PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORIES:

Psychosexual theory/ psychoanalytical theory by Sigmund Freud (1905)

Given by Sigmund Freud.

He proposed a structure called as psychic triad that essentially has three parts that is:-

1. ID (0 – 2 Years)
It is present in the unconscious domain of the mind. It is present at birth, instinctive in
nature, obeys no laws and is governed by the pleasure principles, strives for immediate
pleasure and gratification.
2. EGO (2 – 4 years)
Ego is governed by reality principle to achieve gratification in socially accepted ways,
decision making component and is concerned with memory & judgement.
3. SUPEREGO (> 5 years)
Last to develop. It is determined by the regulation of parents, society and culture. An
internalized vision of society norms and behavioral standards that produce the feeling of
shame and guilt.

As a result of conflict among this psychic triad can be expressed as

1. OEDIPUS COMPLEX: Attraction of male child to mother, strive to imitate the father
to gain the affection of mother

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 2. ELECTRA COMPLEX: Attraction of female child to father.

Freud’s stages of psychosexual development

BIRTH

It is the first experience to effect personality development

ORAL STAGE

In infants the oral cavity is the site for identifying needs. It therefore serves as an erogenous zone

ANAL STAGE

During this stage maturation of neuromuscular control occurs. Control over sphincters,
particularly anal sphincters, results in increased voluntary activity

URETHRAL STAGE

It is the transition between anal and phallic stage

PHALLIC STAGE

The stage begins during the 3rd year of life till the 5th year

LATENCY STAGE

Resolution of any defects occurs in this phase. The phase ends in puberty

GENITAL STAGE

Psychosexual development extends from 11 to 13 year to young adult

Psychosocial theory /model of personality development by Erik Erikson (1963)

He gave 8 stages of emotional development

S.no Age Phase Task

1 0–1 Trust vs mistrust Establishment of social relationships.
(hope) Good outcome: secure, stable relationship

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 bad outcome: insecure, unsatisfactory relationships.
2 2–3 Autonomy vs shame, Beginning of independence and skill acquisition
doubt Good outcome: capable and component
(will) Bad outcome: dependent and unsure
3 4-5 Initiative vs guilt Successful pursuit of central goals or aims.
(purpose) Good outcome: confident about skills.
Bad outcome: hesitant, uncertain.
4 6 – 12 Industry vs. Acquisition of scholastic and social skills
inferiority Good outcome: literate, numerate and socially
(competence) integrated
Bad outcome: failure to acquire scholastic skills,
socially isolated
5 13 – 17 Identity vs. role Learns how to answer sarisfactorily and happily of the
confusion question ‘who am I’
(fidelity) Good outcome: best adjusted of the adolescent
experince
Bad outcome: Experiences some role confusion
6 Young Intimacy vs. isolation Successful young adult can experience true intimacy-
adult (love) the sort of intimacy that makes possible good marriage
and genuine
Good outcome: enduring good friendship
Bad outcome: any alterations of the appearance can
interfere with the previously established relationship
7 Adult Generativity vs. Demands in generativity
stagnation Good outcome: generativity in parenthood, working
(care) productively and creatively
Bad outcome: stagnation
8 Mature Ego integrity vs. If the above 7 stages are resolved well, the individual
adult despair attains peak of adjustment
(wisdom) Good outcome: Trusts, independent, works hard, has
found a well-defined role in life and has developed a
self-concept.
Bad outcome: feeling of disparity.

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 Cognitive theory by Jean Piaget (1952)

He formulated his theory on how children and adolescents think and acquire knowledge.

Piaget’s stage of cognitive development

S.no Stages Age (in Key features

. years)
1 Sensorimotor 0–2 Recognizes self as distinct from other objects in
the world.
Able to initiate action
Achieves object permanence
2 Preoperational 2–7 Uses language and is able to represent objects
by images and words.
Thinking is egocentric, animistic.
Objects classified solely on basis of single
feature.
3 Concrete operational 7 – 12 Thinks logically about objects and events
Achieves conservation of number, volume,
mass.
Objects classified on several dimensions as well
as in a rank series
4 Formal operational 12 and above Thinks logically about abstract propositions and
is able to test hypothesis.
Becomes concerned about the hypothetical, the
future and ideological problems

Piaget’s cognitive structure to explain the process of development

Concepts Description
Adaptation Basic process of all human activity, including assimilation and
accommodation

Assimilation Adaptation of experiences or objects in accordance with existing

strategies or concepts

Accommodation Modification of strategy as a result of new experience or information

Equilibration The process of balancing assimilation and accommodation

Schema Internal representation of some specific action, present from birth

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Operations Internal cognitive rules that arise during later childhood

THEORIES OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIOR

Hierarchy of needs by Maslow (1954)

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 Social learning theory by Bandura (1963)

Most complete, clinically useful and theoretically a sophisticated form of behavior therapy

The learning of behavior is affected by 4 principle elements

1. Antecedent determinants
the conditioning is affected if the person is aware of what is occurring.
2. Consequent determinants
person’s perception and expectancy determine behavior
3. Modeling
learning through observation eliminates the trial error search. It is not an automatic
process but require cognitive factors and involves 4 processes.
a. Attentional processes
b. Retention processes
c. Reproduction processes
d. Motivational processes
4. Self regulation
the system involves a process of self-regulation, judgment and evaluation of individual’s
responses to his own behavior.

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 Classical conditioning by Pavlov (1927)

Operant conditioning by Skinner (1938)

When the child actions are reinforced and rewarded, it is intended that rewarded behavior
is behavior that is likely to be repeated.

MARGARET S MAHLER’S THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT

This theory relates the personality development and the early childhood object relations.
They divided the period of childhood into 3 stages from 0 to 36 months.

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 Merit: Can be applied to the children
Demerit: Not a very comprehensive theory

CONCLUSION

Behavioral science plays a major role in understanding the individual, his

community and his environment. The desire to understand behavior and help
maintain people at an almost perfect state of oral health rather than wait to treat
them after they have developed oral or dental disease has been at the forefront of
promoting a healthy lifestyle and modifying habits so as to reach optimal oral
health status.

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