Summary of Life Course Theories (a.k.a. The Developmental Theories)

These Theories...

Three categories of Life Course Theories Erik Erikson, Jane Loevinger and Jeffery Arnett Family Life Cycle theory and Daniel Levinson Klaus Riegal and Lenard Pearlin’s

Seven Theories: Erik Eriksons Klaus Riegel’s Jane Loevinger’s Carter and McGoldrick Lenard Pearlin’s Daniel Levinson’s Jeffery Arnetts

Developmental theories use an… As individuals progress through life, they face role expectations that challenge them to develop.

These theories describe predictable changes in the behaviour of individuals or families Developmental theories are attempts to explain the…

They also attempt to… Developmental theorists agree that the behaviour of individuals results from… An individual's interaction within society is not only a part of development and growth, but will also guide individuals in their search for________.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs For the growing individual, peer groups change and the focus of relationships shifts from self-centered view to include a more world-view All persons progress through the life cycle at their own pace, but there are approximate age ranges when these changes occur

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslows theory is usually shown in a pyramid, with the most basic needs for survival and safety at the bottom and progressing to the more abstract need for fulfillment

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Development Theories examine how social and psychological areas evolve and develop at different stages in our lives http://ghybe.oise.utoronto.ca/repository/1169250000/HHS4MPU01A02/mme/u1%20a2%20developmental%20stages/LO_5001.html

Erik Erikson Erik Erikson was the first psychologist to describe predictable stages of human development from childhood through adulthood

Erik Erikson At each stage person is challenged by new situations and circumstances in life See handout

Klaus Riegel Development does not occur in predictable stages, but as the individual adjusts to… Four interrelated internal and external dimensions of development: Individual psychological dimension Individual biological dimension Cultural-sociological dimension Environmental dimension

Klaus Riegel A change in one dimension requires an adjustment in one or more of the other dimensions

Jane Loevinger Identified ten stages in the formation of the ego Full ego development occurs when a person develops an…

Jane Loevinger Adolescents are at the conformist stage What do you think this mean? Young adults are at the self-aware stage Adults are at the conscientious stage These stages are determined by an individual’s…

The Family Life Cycle This theory focuses on the point in life where you Success, however, is also rooted in the ability the family has in letting their children go to the next stage in life See handout http://ghybe.oise.utoronto.ca/repository/1188880000/5006.html

Leonard Pearlin The uniqueness of continuous change for individuals is important in personal growth Placement with society such as…are guides for movement into adulthood.

Leonard Pearlin Being able to move on and the ability to make changes are essential to success …are vital and timing affects individuals and their evolution into adulthood The direction in which our life guides us and how we respond will determine where and when we move on to certain aspects of our lives

Daniel Levinson Success in adulthood begins with separation from the family and beginning individual stages in life thus creating one's own life structure …between adult child and parents must occur for an individual to enter adulthood

Daniel Levinson 22-28years – individuals build the structure for their life, forming a dream, mentor relationships, an occupation and love relationships Age 30 transition – 28-33years, re-evaluate their life structure from their early twenties, make changes before its too late, the settle down