🧠 1.
Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Focus: How children think, reason, and understand the world.
Nursing Implications /
Stage Age Major Features
Keywords
- Learns through senses and motor
- Use rattles, peek-a-boo, and
actions
familiar objects.
1. Sensorimotor Birth–2 years - Develops object permanence
- Separation anxiety may occur
(things exist even if unseen)
(around 8–9 months).
- Begins goal-directed behavior
- Egocentric thinking (sees world
- Use simple words, play
from own view)
therapy.
2. Preoperational 2–7 years - Uses symbols (words, images)
- Avoid literal interpretations
- Magical thinking, animism
(“shot” = hurt).
(objects are alive)
- Logical reasoning about
- Allow child to handle
concrete events
3. Concrete equipment.
7–11 years - Understands conservation
Operational - Use concrete examples, not
(quantity stays the same)
abstract ideas.
- Reversibility
- Encourage decision-making
- Abstract and hypothetical
4. Formal 11 years– and independence.
thinking
Operational adulthood - Can understand disease
- Future-oriented reasoning
processes and outcomes.
🧩 Mnemonic:
Some People Can Fly
(Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete operational, Formal operational)
🩷 2. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development
Focus: How personality develops through pleasure-seeking energies (libido).
Focus
Key Task /
Stage Age (Erogenous Nursing Notes
Conflict
Zone)
Oral fixation → smoking, nail-biting.
Mouth (sucking,
Oral Birth–1 year Trust, feeding Ensure oral stimulation for infants
biting)
(feeding, pacifier).
Overstrict toilet training → anal-
Anus (toilet
Anal 1–3 years Control, autonomy retentive (perfectionist). Let toddlers
training)
exercise control and independence.
Child identifies with same-sex parent.
Oedipus/Electra
Phallic 3–6 years Genitals Modesty, curiosity about opposite sex.
complex
Use same-sex nurse if appropriate.
None (sexual Social, cognitive Focus on school and peer relationships.
Latency 6–12 years
energy dormant) development Encourage group activities.
12 years– Genitals (mature Forming intimate Encourage healthy relationships, identity
Genital
adulthood sexuality) relationships formation.
🧠 Mnemonic:
Old Age Pensioners Love Grapes
(Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital)
🧍♂️3. Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
Focus: Learning occurs through observation and imitation.
Concept Explanation Nursing Applications
Observational People learn behaviors by Demonstrate desired behaviors for children or
Learning / Modeling watching others. patients to imitate (e.g., handwashing).
Learner must pay attention to
Attention Minimize distractions when teaching skills.
the model.
Ability to remember the
Retention Use repetition and demonstration.
observed behavior.
Reproduction Ability to perform the behavior. Allow patient return-demonstration.
Behavior performed if Give positive feedback and rewards for
Motivation
reinforced or rewarded. compliance.
Behavior, person, and
Reciprocal Nurse acts as role model—positive behavior
environment influence each
Determinism encourages change.
other.
Belief in one’s ability to Enhance patient confidence—“You can do
Self-efficacy
perform a task. it.”
💬 High-yield tip: Bandura emphasizes “learning by imitation” → Monkey see, monkey do.
💬 4. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development
Focus: Lifelong stages where conflicts must be resolved for healthy development.
Successful
Stage Age Conflict Nursing Implications
Resolution
Birth–1 Basic trust from Provide consistent care, respond
1. Trust vs. Mistrust Trust in others
year caregivers to needs promptly.
2. Autonomy vs. Independence in Self-control, Allow choices, encourage
1–3 years
Shame & Doubt tasks willpower independence (toilet training).
Encourage imagination, play,
3. Initiative vs. Guilt 3–6 years Purposeful activity Sense of initiative
creativity. Avoid criticism.
4. Industry vs. 6–12 School, Competence, Praise accomplishments; help
Inferiority years productivity pride in work with tasks.
5. Identity vs. Role 12–18 Stable sense of Support identity formation, peer
Personal identity
Confusion years self interaction.
6. Intimacy vs. Young Love, Encourage communication and
Relationships
Isolation adult commitment relationships.
7. Generativity vs. Middle Contribution to Encourage volunteering,
Productivity, care
Stagnation adult society mentoring.
8. Integrity vs. Older Wisdom, Encourage reminiscence, life
Reflection on life
Despair adult acceptance review.
🧩 Mnemonic:
TAIPIIGI
(Trust, Autonomy, Initiative, Industry, Identity, Intimacy, Generativity, Integrity)
🩺 High-yield comparison:
Erikson = Psychosocial (society influence)
Freud = Psychosexual (pleasure focus)
👶 5. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
Focus: Bond between child and caregiver affects emotional development.
Concept Description Nursing Application
Emotional bond forming the basis of Encourage rooming-in and skin-to-
Attachment
trust and security. skin contact.
Respond consistently to infant cues
Secure Attachment Child feels safe; caregiver responsive.
(crying, hunger).
Child avoids caregiver; caregiver
Insecure-Avoidant Support parent-infant bonding.
emotionally distant.
Insecure-Ambivalent/
Child anxious; inconsistent caregiver. Encourage consistency in care.
Resistant
Fearful, confused behavior; possible
Disorganized Assess for signs of maltreatment.
abuse or neglect.
Prolonged separation → emotional Prevent unnecessary separation
Maternal Deprivation
damage, poor social skills. during hospitalization.
🧸 Nursing Focus:
Promote consistent caregivers, parental presence, and early bonding to support psychosocial well-
being.
💡 QUICK RECAP TABLE (for cramming)
Theory Focus Stage Keyword Nursing Keyword
Piaget Cognitive development Thinking, logic, reasoning Age-appropriate teaching
Freud Psychosexual development Pleasure zones Personality roots
Bandura Social learning Observation, imitation Modeling behavior
Erikson Psychosocial development Conflict resolution Trust-building
Bowlby Attachment Emotional bond Parent-infant relationship
