Explanatory Models of Human Motor Development
Classified in Psychology and Sociology
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1. Historical Perspective on Motor Development
The study of motor development spans over 200 years, beginning with early observations by Tiedemann (1787) and Pestalozzi (1774). Notably, Darwin (1877) provided a biographical description of his son's visual-motor and cephalocaudal development.
2. European Perspectives
- J. de Ajuriaguerra: Focus on infantile psychomotor development.
- Azemar: Analysis of holokinesias and ideokinesias in children.
- E. Pikler: Theories on global motor development.
- J. Le Boulch: The psychomotor development approach.
- V. da Fonseca: The psychosociobiological approximation.
3. American Perspectives
- H. Williams: The concept of perceptuomotor development.
- E.J. Cratty: The four-channel model of development.
- D.L. Gallahue: Theoretical model of motor development.
4. Objectives
To analyze the explanatory models of human motor development through:
- Historical perspectives.
- European and American theoretical visions.
- Current trends in motor development research.
5. Historical Evolution of Research
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American universities began formal studies of child development. Gesell (1920) pioneered research into normal and abnormal development, leading to the creation of early assessment scales (Gesell, Shirley, Bayley, and the Ozeretsky motor examination).
6. Timeline of Motor Development Studies
- 1940–1960: Medical and psychological studies focused on child behavior and the creation of assessment instruments.
- 1960–1980: Physical education research focused on analyzing motor skills in sports and games (e.g., Espenschade, Rarick).
- 1980–Present: Interprofessional collaboration between psychologists and educators to address learning and motor behavior problems (e.g., Cratty, Le Boulch, Pikler, Da Fonseca).