Learning theory focuses on changes in behavior and development that take place because of an individual’s past experiences. There are four theories of learning that play a role in the examination of human development. The first is classical conditioning, which is when a bond already exists between the stimuli in an environment and the response of the person. These bonds are also known as reflexes where the …show more content…
One particular example is demonstrated when looking through the sociohistorical and geographical paradigm of the theory. This fundamental principle of the life course theory outlines the importance of an individual’s geographical location and the historical period in which they live. Factors such as wars and cultural ideologies can have a deep impact on an individual’s perceptions which can therefore alter his or her developmental path. For example, a child who grows up in a war torn country is likely to move frequently, hence his chances of receiving a proper education may be significantly lower. Furthermore, it may be difficult for the child to form long lasting relationships with peers of his or her own age. these factors may influence a child in becoming a war fighter, especially if the war was caused by deep religious and cultural beliefs. This approach can also be applied to the development of children during world war II. During this time a child’s devolvement relied heavily on his or her race, culture, geographical location, and religious views. A young Jewish boy could have been executed because of his cultural background while a German boy of the same age and geographical location would not face the same danger. In reality, the young German boy would be taught to hate the Jewish heritage and to regard them as an inferior race. Life course theory does focus …show more content…
Changes in any of the systems as well can affect development and time. Time is also a factor to look at and, “both the individual and the systems in which the person is embedded change over time” (Newman, 293). When looking at development and growth, things such as the time a historical event happens, how much time a child’s parents spend with them, amount of time the child may have spent in a day care and many other things but all these aspects shape the person in a