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.…

Achievement motivation in women is discussed in the context of recent ideas by Gilligan and by Spence and Helmreich which consider women's development and values without considering only the ways women's behavior differs from male behavior. Implications for practice and research are included. (Author/BL)

Participants (N=24) included undergraduates and nontraditional students over age 25. Of the critical events investigated, 27 percent were qualitatively different from Chickering's description of developing autonomy but were similar to his relationship task. Concluded there is no single way to develop autonomy. (Author/ABL)