Continuity In Your Development

Continuity in Your Development

Developmental psychology deals with the process through which a person develops the various aspects of his self , such as the physical emotional , intellectual , and social aspect of one 's self . The experts in this particular field are more concerned with the intellectual and personality changes of a person in the course of his lifetime . This field of psychology aims to understand the various factors affecting the personality , intelligence , and behavior of a person (Shaffer Kipp 2006

One of the major issues in developmental psychology is the process

of the changes that happen in an individual . Developmental psychologists specifically question whether the changes occur in a smooth process or in a series of predetermined steps . Some experts argue that changes merely increase in quantity , while other theorists claim that changes occur in stages that determine which skills and development will emerge (Van Wagner , 2008

Thus , the theories of continuity and discontinuity arose . These theories are specifically prevalent in child development as they attempt to explain the developmental changes that take place during childhood According to the concept of continuity , development occurs in a continuous manner , which could be best described as a gradual accumulation of behavior , skill , and knowledge (Keenan , 2002 . The idea of the continuous development in various human aspects is compared to the growth of a polyp or coral . As the polyp and coral grow , their height increases , but the rest of their attributes and characteristics are retained . Hence , the concept of continuity argues that development occurs in a linear and ly fashion . Developmental psychologists often refer to this type of development as growth (Lewis , 1995

On the other hand , proponents of the discontinuity theory claim that development takes place qualitatively , with new skills , behavior , and knowledge emerging at various times . The discontinuous view of development is characterized by predetermined stages of development which includes qualitative reorganization of the skills and behavior (Keenan , 2002

The idea of discontinuity is compared to the maturation stages of a butterfly , the development of which includes abrupt and drastic changes As a caterpillar , it acquires the ability to crawl . When it becomes an adult , it turns into a butterfly it grows wings and obtains the ability fly which is a sudden , irreversible change . Thus , the progress of development is characterized by steps or stages . Most developmental psychologists believe that the development of the human intellect occurs in stages . People , especially young children , have dramatic changes and transformations that can be categorized as discontinuous in nature (Lewis , 1995

Personally , I believe that discontinuous development best describes some of life 's experiences . Some of our abilities change qualitatively and the changes occur in steps and stages . The acquisition of knowledge and skills and changes in behavior are characterized by discontinuous change or development , as we exhibit behavior and possess knowledge and skills that match our age

To cite an example , as a child , I learned how to read and solve simple mathematical equations when I was in primary school . As I...