Developmental stage theories

Developmental stage theories

One of the major controversies in developmental psychology centres around whether development is continuous or discontinuous. Stage theories of development rest on the assumption that development is a discontinuous process involving distinct stages which are characterised by qualitative differences in behaviour. Stage theories can be contrasted with continuous theories, which posit that development is an incremental process.[1]

There are many stage (discontinuous) theories in developmental psychology including:

While some of these theories focus primarily on the healthy development of children, others propose stages that are characterized by a maturity rarely reached before old age.

HOW DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS[5] There are a number of different views about the way in which psychological and physical development proceed throughout the life span. In addition to individual differences in development, developmental psychologists generally agree that development occurs in an orderly way and in different areas simultaneously. There remain, however, differing views on whether development is continuous or discontinuous.

CONTINUOUS VERSUS DISCONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT[5] Those psychologists who support the continuous view of development suggest that development involves gradual and ongoing changes throughout the life span, with behaviour in the earlier stages of development providing the basis of skills and abilities required for the next stages.

Not all psychologists, however, agree that development is a continuous process. Some view development as a discontinuous process. They believe development involves distinct and separate stages with different kinds of behaviour occurring in each stage. This suggests that the development of certain abilities in each stage, such as specific emotions or ways of thinking, have a definite starting and ending point. However, there is no exact time at which an ability suddenly appears or disappears. Although some types of thinking, feeling or behaving may seem to appear suddenly, it is more than likely that this has been developing gradually for some time.

References

  1. ^ a b c White, F., Hayes, B., & Livesey, D. (2005). Developmental Psychology: From Infancy to Adulthood. NSW:Pearson Education Australia
  2. ^ Kohlberg, L. (1987). The Measurement of Moral Judgement. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052132565X. 
  3. ^ Lievegoed, Bernard (1997). Phases: the spiritual rhythms of adult life. Forest Row, GB: Rudolf Steiner Press. ISBN 1855840561. http://books.google.com.na/books?id=kHrpFamC7XUC. 
  4. ^ Maslow, A. H. (1987). Motivation and personality (3rd ed.). New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0060419873. 
  5. ^ a b Grivas J. & Carter L. "Psychology for South Australia Stage I"