22 Part 1 Foundations of Human Development
Imagine yourself standing in the checkout line at a grocery store. The line is
slow moving and as you wait your turn, you have a hard time ignoring a nearby
young child who is throwing a temper tantrum. The child kicks, screams, and
lies on the floor and cries. Why? Did the child’s mother say no to a request for a
toy? Maybe the reason is much more complex. You think about why this behav-
ior is occurring and what motivates the child’s actions. Your opinion is based
on past experiences and knowledge. Your opinion may be different depending
on whether you know the young child, or if the child is a stranger to you. Is the
child tired, hungry, or too young to understand? Does the child not get enough
attention? Is this a behavior that is usually rewarded?
The Role of Developmental Theories
People have opinions about why others act the way they do. Researchers
and scientists explore the many ways in which humans grow and develop.
They are motivated by the intrigue of understanding how humans develop.
They observe people, perform experiments, and draw conclusions based on
their studies and earlier studies that others have done. As a result of observa-
tion and experimentation, scientists and researchers formulate developmental
theories. Developmental theories are comprehensive explanations about why
people act and behave the way they do and how they change over time.
Why should you learn about developmental theories? In doing so, you will
better understand the capabilities, motivations, and expectations of those around
you, 2-1. This includes family members, fellow students, coworkers, and those
you care for or work with in professional settings. Understanding developmental
theories will give you a broader picture of how people develop and change over
time. You will not have to rely only on your own limited personal experiences
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By learning about development theories, you will better understand what others
are capable of doing and why.