Individuals direct their own development by setting developmental goals and striving for goal attainment. Human development includes reductions in discrepancies between desired and actual states, as is the case in goal attainment and reduction of aspirations, as well as increases of discrepancies, for example, when individuals increase their…

This approach to the subject of adolescence is comprehensive, embracing three determinants which are universal for any stage of individual human development: (a) biology, (b) culture, and (c) psychology. The chapter on biology presents a brief review of the physical and physiologic changes of puberty, taking note of the impact of puberty on the…

Arthur Chickering's (1969) psychological theory that men and women from the ages of 17 through 25 years share common developmental tasks was tested in a cross-sectional study of the psychosocial development of 241 college students and adults. Evidence supported a sequence of developmental tasks for women that differed from Chickering's theory.…

As an outgrowth of the theory of flow, looks at some fine distinctions regarding the adolescent's optimal conditions for growth. Points to the importance of the adolescent's ability to reinterpret conflicts which crop up in raw experience, to overcome psychic entropy with long-term challenges or "life themes," and to find new meaning and…

Compared disabled (n=45) and nondisabled (n=45) undergraduates to determine how disabled compare to nondisabled in developmental tasks required of college students; whether academic performance can be predicted on basis of developmental skills; and whether age at onset of disability influences college student developmental skills. Found…

Behaviors characterizing the adolescent period are examined, followed by the identification and explanation of the developmental tasks of adolescence; finally, the specific contributions of occupational therapy to adolescent development and to task mastery are presented. (Author)

This article synthesizes the relationship of human development and learning to industrial arts. It discusses developmental stages and tasks according to Havighurst, Piaget, and Erikson and how they each apply to industrial arts (CT)

This study explored cultural differences in the criteria young people have for becoming an adult. Specifically, the study sought (a) to compare Chinese and American responses concerning whether they believe they have reached adulthood; (b) to examine whether adulthood criteria could fit a common statistical model for both cultures; and (c) after…

Argues that the social pressures for children to mature rapidly should not prevent adults from addressing the needs of children nor from helping them achieve their normal course of development. (DB)

Describes a workshop on human development for home companions of older adults that includes sessions on identity, intimacy, generativity, integrity, trust, and communication. (SK)

This article is an abstract of the doctoral dissertation selected by NASPA as the 1977 Dissertation of the Year. It concerns the identification of student activities related to developmental growth. This identification may eventually help design a campus milieu that will maximize growth. (Author)

Perceptions of parents and their adolescent children about a number of developmental tasks were compared for 508 Dutch families. Parents consistently indicated later ages for the achievement of developmental tasks than did adolescents, but they had similar views of the sequence in which achievement of developmental tasks should occur. (SLD)

This document discusses whether young people with difficulty entering adulthood can be helped, or if accumulated effects of various adversitites have caused irremediable damage. First the developmental tasks that adolescents need to accomplish before they can take on adult roles are described. Next, two well-known explanations for youths' failure…

This article outlines some of the contributions of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development in providing a developmental perspective on career behavior. A brief overview of Erikson's theory is presented and possible contributions of the theory towards enhancing understanding of career development are noted. (Author)