Principles of Human Development
‘Growth’ and ‘Development’ are often used as synonymous terms. But, in fact, growth is different from development. Growth means an increase in size, height, weight, length etc. which can be measured. Development, on the other hand, implies change in shape, form or structure resulting in improved working or in functioning. Improved functioning implies certain qualitative changes leading to maturity.
Growth and Development are the important characteristics of a living organism. Development involves a series of progressive, orderly and meaningful changes leading to the goals of maturity. Normally Growth contributes to Development. In reality though ‘Growth and Development’ are different, but they are inseparable. Generally process of Growth and Development goes on simultaneously.
Definition of development
According to Hurlock (1959): “Development means a progressive series of changes that occur in an orderly, predictable pattern as a result of maturation and experience.”
According to Crow and Crow (1962): “Development is concerned with growth as well as those changes in behavior which results from environmental situations”.
According to Liebert, Poulos and Marmor (1979): “Development refers to a process of change in growth and capability over time, as a function of both mature and interaction with the environment. Thus, the development includes Growth Capability Maturation Interaction with the environment”.
Development is a progressive series of qualitative changes that occur due to maturation and experience. Thus human development is based on certain principles.
Development follows the principle of continuity which starts with conception and ends with death. It is a never ending process in life. The child, through the developmental process, passes continuously with changes although the pace and quantity of change vary from stage to stage.
Principle of Individual Differences:
Every individual is unique in himself/herself as the heredity and environmental factors make him/her different from others. So, development is also based on the principle that although some aspects of development will be common for all the individuals, but because they possess different hereditary traits and environment, they differ from each other.
Principle of Sequentiality:
Principle of sequentiality states that every individual although exhibit difference in change, they follow the same sequence of change. In prenatal stage of development, a genetic sequence is followed appearing at fixed intervals with specific characteristics. Cephalocaudal and proximodistal tendencies are found to be followed in maintaining sequence and direction of development.
Principle of Generality to Specificity:
This principle of sequentiality also suggests that the nature of development follows the principle of generality to specificity. The development process starts with general responses shown by the child as s/he passes through the later stages s/ he starts exhibiting specific behaviours.
Principle of Interrelation:
development does not solely mean physical aspect of human life rather it includes cognitive, affective, social and moral aspects also. Thus, the development of an individual is reflected through the balanced interrelation of all the aspects of life. Development in any aspect affects the other aspect also. For example, if an adolescent girl passes through a significant change in physical aspect, her emotional, social and moral dimensions also will change.
Principle of Interaction:
The principle of interaction suggests that an individual is the product of heredity and environment. In other words, the interaction takes place within and outside forces of the child. As we have earlier studied that the individual standing before the society is not the sole product of heredity rather it is due to the combination of what s/he is and what s/he receives from the environment.
Principle of Differentiation in Rate:
Differentiation in rate indicates that individuals differ in the rate of development. We can observe that there is difference in the rate of development in girls and boys, like girls grow faster than the boys at the early stage of development. Another aspect is that the rate of the development process also differs stage wise and dimension wise. For example feet, nose, hands develop at the early stage of adolescence but the shoulder grows gradually.
Principle of Integration:
Principle of Integration refers to the integration of various aspects of development like physical, mental, emotional, social and moral. The individual we are observing is not the sole reflection of any one aspect rather it is the integration of all the dimensions of development. Although we have already studied that the change in any dimension affects other dimension also but the personality of a child is the product of the balanced integration of all the aspects. For example, a child who is performing brilliantly in any examination is not only the reflection of her/his mental development rather the performance is the balanced reflection of all the aspects of development.
Principle of Predictability:
Development is predictable i.e. with the help of the uniformity of the pattern and sequence of development. We can predict the behaviour to a great extent of child in one or more aspect in a particular stage of her/his growth and development. Likewise, the prediction of an adolescent can be done on the basis of the characteristics s/he exhibits at her/his stage of development.
0 Comments