Principles of Development

 Principles of Development

The principles of growth and development are:

Principle of Continuous Development

• The principle of continuous development states that the development in human beings is continuous i.e., it starts at the time of conception and continues till death.
• However, the pace of development in different stages of an individual’s life is different i.e., it is sometimes slow and sometimes fast.

Principle of Fixed Direction of Development

• Principle of fixed direction of development states that the development in an individual occurs in a fixed direction.
• For example: at embryo stage, first the head develops and then the lower portion the child’s body i.e., development takes place from head to toe in a fixed direction.

Principle of Uniform Pattern

• Principle of uniform pattern states that the pattern of development in species of same kind is uniform.
• For example: In humans, a child’s milk teeth fall first and then his/her permanent teeth appear. This is a uniform pattern of development that is observed/seen in all human beings.

Principle of Sequential Development

• Principle of sequential development states that the development in an individual is sequential or orderly.
•  All living species of same kind follow a sequence of development peculiar to it.
• For example: Language development in all children takes place in the same sequence.

Principle of Development from General to Specific

• Principle of development from general to specific states that in all phases of a child’s development general activity proceeds specific activity.
• For example: A child will move his/her hand in random movements (general action) before he is capable of specific action such as waving or reaching his hands.

Principle of Integration

• Principle of integration states that although development proceeds from general to specific, it is also seen that specific responses are combined in later process of learning and development.
• For example: A child first learns to hold things with his/her full hand and then learns to use his/her fingers to hold things. As s/he grows up, s/he learns what things can be held and what not. Afterwards before holding object with his/her fingers, he/she decides whether the object should be held or not. Thus, in later stages of life people integrate all these actions and perform them at the same time.

Principle of Rate of Development

• Principle of rate of development states that the rate of development in an individual is not uniform.
• There are periods in an individual’s life in which the rate of development is very rapid and then there are periods in which the rate of development is slow or very slow.
• For example: By the age of 6 years, the human brain develops to almost its full size while the arm’s and leg’s development is completed by adolescence.
• The rate of development in different period of human’s life is given below:

Principle of Interrelation

• Principle of interaction of heredity and environment states that development is the product of interaction of heredity and environment.
• Heredity is the transfer of physical and mental characteristics from parents to child through genes. Heredity influences different aspects of growth and development i.e., height, weight, structure of body, color of hair and eye etc.
• Environment means the environment around the children i.e., their interaction with family, neighborhood, peers and also the nutrition that the child receives.

Principle of Individual Difference

• Principle of individual difference states that each individual develops with his/her own physical and mental characteristics and traits.
• No two individuals are alike, not even twins. They differ in their interests, attitudes, needs, aims, ambitions etc.
• Individual differences occur due to genetic and environment differences that one has from other.

Principle of Total Development

• Principle of total development states that during the physical development of an individual the different aspects of his/her personality also develop like his/her social, emotional, mental and other developments.

Principle of Predictability

• Principle of predictability states that development in human beings is predictable.
• It means that with the help of uniformity of pattern and sequence of development, the growth and development of different aspects of an individual’s life can be predicted.