Bridging the Gap between Developmental and Learning Studies: The Concept of Developmental Tasks

Abstract

In the seventies and eighties the nature of the interaction between learning and developmental processes over the lifespan was reconsidered. Modern psychologists presently conceive these processes as dependent on each other and do not accept the notion that it is possible to study them separately. At the same time meanwhile, there are obviously differences between learning and developmental studies. The studies differ in their goals, methods, techniques and theoretical interpretations. It is therefore important that we define a common domain for studying these interactions, formulate a common language and organize the evidence of the two branches of studies.