Theories and science continue........ (notes psychology)

Model:  is a concrete image of theoretical relationships that flow from a meta theory.  Thus, each meta theory offers a perspective on a given phenomenon and the phenomenon of developmental psychology is change.  Three perspectives on development, or models are:  Mechanistic, Organismic and Contextual.  Each model offers a point of view of developmental change.

Mechanistic theory  -  The basic metaphor of this model is that the human being is a machine, made up of parts that can be analysed into their smallest components and then re-esembled.  The machine can be no more or less than the parts of which it is composed.  A machine reacts automatically to internal and external forces.  The human machine is composed of biological parts that respond to internal and external stimuli.  If science can analyse the parts - understand how the human machine is put together - and understand the forces impinging on the human machine, it would be able to predict the behaviour of the human machine.
     Historically, Descartes in the 1600's viewed human and animal behaviour as operating according to mechanistic (machine) principles.  Descartes set the stage for the mechanistic interpretation of human and animal behaviour.  In modern psychology, Skinner in the 1900's supported this view by saying that behaviour could be understood as a function of the principle and processes of re-enforcement.  Control re-enforcement and behaviour is manipulable.
    For mechanistic theory, development is seen as quantitave in nature, is continuous and habits build upon habits.  It is possible to identify the conditions that influence the acquisition, maintenance and modification of habits across the life span.  As one grows old, this theory assumes that it is possible to learn new behaviour or components to replace less useful habits or from the standpoint of info-processing theory -- If mental processes can be broken down into their constituent parts in much the same way a computer operates -- registering, organising, storing and retrieving information; then, if one of these components fails, it may be possible to design techniques to boost older adults functioning. 
             to be continued...............