Human Development Theories

Chapter 5, Nugent & Jones Introduction to the Profession of Counseling CG 501

Human Development

These theories influence and underlie counseling theory and practice Connection to human development theory helps distinguish counseling from remedial emphasis of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists Emphasis on helping to resolve normal conflicts and maintain healthy personal, social and career development

Pioneers in Human Development Theory

Jean Piaget: theory of cognitive development, focused on childhood Carl Jung: stages of life (emphasis on importance of midlife and later) Charlotte Buehler: psychosocial aspect of devel. through life cycle Robert Havighurst: also psychosocial life stage model, coined term developmental tasks

More Recent Life-Span Development Theories

Erik Erikson: 8 psychosocial stages, each with a developmental challenge (see p. 100 in text) Lawrence Kohlberg: stages of moral development; spawned dialogue across disciplines Adult Development Theories
Perry: college student development Levinson: seasons of a mans life Gould: transformation via confront. of conflict Butler: productive aging (anti-ageism)

More Recent Life-Span Development Theories, contd

Feminist Development Theories

Carol Gilligan: criticized Kohlbergs theory as based on male norms (he later modified his theory in response); women view moral decisions from a caring perspective (not just justice) Stone Center at Wellesley College (Jordan et al., Miller, Surrey, etc.): the relational self of females

More Recent Life-Span Development Theories, contd

Religious and Spiritual Development

Fowler: faith not a fixed religious belief, but an orientation giving purpose and goal to life; 6 stages of faith (Kohlberg) Worthington: importance of counselors understanding of tie between religious faith and development Moody & Carroll: 5 Stages of the Soul (p. 114 in text)

More Recent Life-Span Development Theories, contd

Emotional Intelligence
Coleman built on Gardners (MI) cognitive concept of EI (5 stages)
1.

2.

3. 4.

5.

Awareness of own emotions (needs met) Managing emotions (preschoolers, recognize and accept boundaries) Becoming self-motivated (drive to persist) Empathic developmentfeelings of others recognized and important Social intelligenceplays well with others

More Recent Life-Span Development Theories, contd

Ivey: Developmental Counseling and Therapy Combined first two stages from Piaget, then added a new 4th postformal stage: dialectic/systemic emphasis in this dialetic/systemic stage on the recognized importance of context Realization that self-reflection and interactions with family and culture provide for possibility of constant change/growth and development

Trend: Toward an Integrated Theory of Development

Recent theorists focusing beyond narrow time spans or concernstoward inclusiveness Emphasis on psychological development in contextstill peaking Constructivistsemphasis on selfs tendency to make meaning out of experience Social constructionistsself determined by sociocultural influences Theories to bridge the gap: Bruner, Haste, Noam

Theories to Bridge the Gap

1.

Jerome Bruner
Supports social-cultural influences Humans find meaning thru narrative understandingmode of organizing

Theories to Bridge the Gap, (contd)

2.

Helen Haste
Triadic relationship between:
a. b.

c.

Autonomous, self-organizing self Interpersonal self Self in relation to social-cultural milieu

Based on Vygotskys work Called Lay Social Theory Addresses pluralistic moral position

Theories to Bridge the Gap, (contd)

Noamsimilar model to Hastes Two structures of the self
1. themata: biographical structure, development as a life story 2. schemata: self-perspective arising from interaction with others and environment

Stage theory as inadequate model