Gesell: Maturation Theory Flashcards
What theory did Gesell propose?
The maturation theory
What did gesell argue?
Development is determined (also a natavist)
Children follow the same sequence of development but may be at different paces
Personality develops slowly and is linked to different stages of development
He stated there are average stages of development. Called “development norms”, relating to PIES
How is the maturation theory used?
Practitioner observes child and uses the observation to compare the child’s development to the “norms”
It’s used to assess whether the child is meeting their developmental milestones
Also used to assess whether the child will require additional support
“Norms” are used by practitioners to plan children’s learning
Positives of maturation theory:
Developmental norms are still used in early years and development today
He used a large number of observations as a base for his work
Negatives of the maturation theory
He did not consider cultural differences or the impact other individuals may have on the child
He argued that categorising children by these ‘norms’ was desirable and did not seek to critique his own work
