PF0102

Learning & Development 1

Lecturer: Siti Norhedayah Abdul Latif

Presenter:
Hairul Azmi (10D0004)
Hj Roslan Ghafar (10D0005)
Topic:
Examine how biological theory (Arnold
Gesell) and developmental task theory
(Robert J. Havighurst) differ in their
perspective development of an individual.

Analyse a development task of young

Adulthood

Discuss how you as teacher would help

them to achieve their development task.
 SCOPE OF PRESENTATION
• Brief Introduction to
– Gesell Theory
– Havighurst Theory
– Difference between the two Theory
• Discussion on
– Analyse a development task of young Adulthood
– Discuss how you as teacher would help them to
achieve their development task.
• Conclusion & Recommendation
– Brief conclusion and recommendation
– Questions and answer
 Biological Theory
• Introduced by Arnold Gesell (1880-1961)
– a psychologist, pediatrician.
– A student of G. Stanley Hall ("father" of
developmental psychology).
– established Norms and Milestones.
• Development is determined primarily by
biological forces.
• formulated a theory known as
“Maturation”.
 Developmental Tasks Theory
• Introduced by Robert J. Havighurst (1948 –
1953).
• He defined as a midway of an individual needs
and societal demand.
• As a mechanism for understanding the changes
that occur during the lifespan.
Havighurst (1952) defined:
"A development task is a task which
arises at or about a certain period in the
life of the individual, successful
achievement of which leads to his
happiness and to success with later
tasks, while failure leads to unhappiness
in the individual, disapproval by society,
and difficulty with later tasks."
Biological Theory

Vs.

Developmental
Tasks Theory
• Nature vs. Nurture
• Pattern of development.
• Focus of studies.
• Norms and milestones.
 Arnold Gesell (Nature)
• Nature is considered to be our biological
inheritance.
• Identified the role of nature or heredity in
children’s development.
• Arnold Gesell wrote:
“Patterns of behaviour in all species tend to follow
an orderly genetic sequence in their emergence.
This genetic sequence is itself an expression of
elaborate pattern – a pattern whose basic outline
is the product of evolution and is under influence
of maturational factors” (Gesell,1993. p217)
• This theory stated that developmental
changes in a child's body or behavior are
a result of the aging process rather
than from learning, injury, illness, or
some other life experience.
• He believed that many aspects of human
behavior such as handedness and
temperament were heritable.
Robert J. Havighurst (Nurture)
Havighurst wrote:
“ Nature lays down wide possibilities in the
developing of the human body, and which
possibilities shall be realized depends on
what the individual learns. This is true even
of such crude biological realities as feeding
habits and sexual relations, while the more
highly social realities of language, economic
behavior, and religion are almost completely
the product of learning at the hands of
society.” (1953, p. 1).
• Havighurst added that biology and
society have a lot influence, but
personal values of the people who
prepare them have as much influences
on identifying the task.
• Havighurst stated that the number of
tasks in different age levels depends on
the person and the society he lives in.
Pattern of development.
• Arnold Gesell:
– Documented sequential developmental
milestones for infant and early childhood
rudimentary behaviors.
– There is a universal sequence of infant
movement skill acquisition.
• Robert J. Havighurst:
– Successful development requires the
mastery of a series of tasks arising from
physical maturation and cultural
expectations.
 4.5 Yrs
Towards 2 Yrs
9 Yrs Internal-External, Smooth, 5 Yrs
Problematic, Stable
Neurotic

Cycle Pattern 2.5Yrs

8 Yrs Energetic
4 Yrs &
in Broken,
Development Fragmented
Developing
of Behavior. 6 Yrs

Towards Round-
7 Yrs Internal-Self Balance
6.5 Yrs
3.5 Yrs 3 Yrs
Development Stages
• Havighurst identified six major stages
in human life.
– Infancy & early childhood (Birth till 6yrs)
– Middle childhood (6-12yrs)
– Adolescence (13-18yrs)
– Early Adulthood (19-30yrs)
– Middle Age (30-60yrs)
– Later maturity (60yrs and over)
Focus of Studies
• Arnold Gesell:
– he focus his studied in movement abilities of child
development.
– Physical development

• Robert J. Havighurst:
– his studied focus to individual tasks
accomplishment.
Development Milestones
• Arnold Gesell:
– Only stated until the individual reach their
adolescence (0-18 years old)
• Robert J. Havighurst:
– New tasks assigned in each of
developmental stages (lifetime learning)