Summary Of Childhood And Adolescence By Spencer Rathus

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Childhood and Adolescence was written by Spencer A. Rathus. In chapter one talks about the history, theories and methods. At the beginning of the chapter it talks the history and what the study of children really is. It also talks about John B. Watson, who was the founder of American behaviorism. His viewed development as learning. In this chapter the book also talks about how back in the Middle ages children were often viewed as something bad and so discipline was harsher. Back in this time children were only nurtured until they were seven. When they turn seven which was called the “age of reason”. After they turned seven they had to work to get food and water. They also had to dress, work, and act like the adults did. Things began to changes …show more content…

He believed that children learn by watching other kids getting something like candy, extra playing time, or social acceptance. Skinner talked about negative and positive reinforcement. He said if a care taker rewards good behavior and looks down on or punish kids for bad behavior that kids will be less likely to behave. This chapter also discusses Ethology and Evolution. Which basically means that kids and people do what comes naturally to them. Charles Darwin, Konrad Lorenz, and Niko Tanbergen were all ethologists. Researchers are always trying to find out how kids learn and one of their solutions is nature and nurture. Nature is things that come naturally to people. It is caused by people’s heritage, nervous system, and maturation. Nurture are things that people learn so they can adapt to their life. It is coming from people’s cultural back group, their opportunity to learn, and the type of education a person has access to. At the end of the chapter it gives some different types of methods of studding children. One of the methods is a case study, according to this book a case study is a carefully drawn account of the behaviors of an individual. For an in formal case study parent keep a journal of what their kids do and

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