The author critically reviews the literature on the developmental approach to mental retardation by examining such aspects as motivation, interrupted tasks, probability learning, institutional effect, statistical problems, and Piagetian tasks; and questions whether there is a substantial body of valid evidence supporting claims of…

Notes that the Piagetian perspective admits the existence of interindividual differences but interprets them as noise masking the universal logical succession of structures, whereas the differential perspective views development as consisting of "vicarious processes." Asserts that the main aim of the "procedural studies"…

This "classic" article (1972) in the field of deaf studies includes some interpretive notes for current readers. The article examines the effect of deafness on basic developmental tasks at each of the eight developmental stages of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development and explains the more successful passage through these…

Two experiments used a formal model of developmental discontinuity derived from catastrophe theory to test whether the transition from Rule I to Rule II on the balance scale task proceeds discontinuously from ages 6 to 10, focusing on five catastrophe flags. Found that bimodality, inaccessible region, hysteresis, and sudden jump were clearly…

Although the structure of modern society has both prolonged adolescence and exacerbated some of its tasks and challenges, the majority of adolescents successfully negotiate this period and mature in a relatively healthy manner. Nevertheless, significant numbers of adolescents find the challenges overwhelming, experience great conflict, and wind up…