Conceptual and empirical evidence generally tends to support the assumption that self-actualization is related to moral maturity, in particular to transitional or post-conventional moral reasoning. Because the evidence is largely correlational, the precise nature of the relationship has yet to be clearly determined. (RM)

Examines Allport's concept of unity and why his ideas have not been translated into clinical practice. Discusses how Dabrowski's concept of multilevelness organizes levels of development. The application of multilevelness to unity provides a model in which Allport's ideas are clarified and differentiates personality characteristics potentially…

Summarizes aspects of theory and research on ego development that suggest guiding principles for dealing with the common behaviors of preadolescent children. (Author/MP)

Discusses the development of moral sensitivity in gifted children and its impact on identity formation and development of the self. Also addresses how the phenomenon of asynchrony manifests in moral development of gifted children and the models they develop to give form to their moral concerns. (Author/CR)

Presented are the theoretical characteristics of social identity in early adolescence (ages 10 to 15). It is suggested that no longer is identity thought to begin with adolescence, but may have its beginnings in the preteen years. The article draws heavily on Eriksonian concepts. (Editor/KC)

This article examines the descriptive influences of reading and learning disorders on personality development. It discusses the effects of biologic vulnerabilities and environmental interaction, the variant patterns of defense and symptom development at various life stages, and evidence that early development failures are key elements in later…

Uses the Cross model of Black identity development as a framework for discussion of the developmental stages of American-Indian identity: pre-encounter, encounter, immersion/emersion, and internalization. Discusses identity conflicts encountered in various scenarios related to biracial or bicultural status, adoptions, mixed-race families, parent…

Instead of confirming John Dewey's ideas, Lawrence Kohlberg's writings on moral-cognitive development conflict with some of Dewey's principal concepts about moral development. Dewey's views of psychological growth, or development, and attainment of the good are contrasted with Kohlberg's findings. (PP)

Examines earlier conceptualizations of successful aging and calls for a reformulation that is more responsive to developmental processes and theoretical guidance. Discusses issues of operational definitions, selective sampling, and stage theory. The perspective is illustrated with empirical research in the personality realm. (Author)

Conceptualizes the counseling process and its outcome by comparing it metaphorically to Freud's psychosexual stage conception of personality development. Focuses on resemblances between oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages. New meanings can be drawn from these resemblances, leading to fresh insight into the counseling relationship.…

The process by which human beings, as they grow toward maturity, develop values is not an automatic one. The process can be fostered by a number of teaching strategies. The strategies include the techniques of self-discovery, the provision of learning environments that encourage growth, and the practice of specific skills. This volume provides a…

Lawrence Kohlberg's empirical research does not, in itself, justify the claim that his higher stages of moral development are more adequately moral than lower stages; consequently, using Kohlbergian interventions to promote student development through these stages is unjustified. Empirical research, while necessary for planning and executing…

Raymond B. Cattell's research has produced many conceptual, methodological, measurement, and data analysis tools for identifying and studying interindividual differences and similarities in intraindividual change patterns. Additional Cattell contributions to lifespan developmental research include personality and ability concepts and their…

A literature review uncovered three themes on women's psychosocial development: diverse and nonlinear patterns, importance of intimacy and identity, and centrality of relationships and connectedness to others. The review assessed the applicability of existing developmental models to women and identified alternative designs and methods needed to…

Recent data suggest that genes influence three domains of great importance to family researchers: (1) developmental outcomes; (2) family variables that are thought to influence those outcomes; and (3) covariance between measures of family process and developmental outcomes. Influence of genes on variances and covariances challenges current…