Toward a Dialectical Theory of Development

Abstract

A dialectical theory of development is concerned with short-term situational changes, e.g., in the dialogue between mother and child, and long-term developmental changes, e.g., in the career development of husband and wife. A dialectical theory deem-phasizes equilibrium or balance at which development is at rest; it emphasizes continuing changes brought about by inner and outer contradictions. These conflicts create asynchronies within or between any two of four dimensions of development; inner-biological, individual-psychological, cultural-sociological, outer-physical. Development aims at synchronizing progressions along different dimensions. Such an interpretation is closely comparable to orchestral arrangements (from classical music to jazz) rather than to physical theories of balances on which social psychologists and even cognitive developmental psychologists continue to rely.