Elements of lifetime development

Summarizing various process models developed through the lifespan theorists, Goldhaber (2000) describes the basic elements that define the lifespan development perspective as follows: development is an open process, a situated process, and a successive sequence.

Development as an open process

Regarding development as an open process, lifespan theorists see development as "an open-ended co-evolving system that reflects the interplay of the continuing processes of organic and social evolution" (p. 308). As retroactively evolving processes, the lifespan perspective argues that claims of universality from the mechanistic and organismic perspective are incorrect. Individuals structure their own social environments, allowing each individual to play an active role in developing self and environment, and allowing each generation to build on accomplishments from prior generations (Goldhaber, 2000).

Development as a situation process

Whereas the organismic lens sees the individual as being a master of the environment, the lifespan developmental perspective sees the environment as playing a more significant role in individual development. The socio-historical context not only defines the rate and level of development but also the structure of the lifespan. Specifically, the socio-historical context imposes on individuals the roles, expectations, measurements of intelligence and wisdom, notions of normality, appropriate social interactions, and the extent that society controls individual freedom (Goldhaber, 2000).

Development as a successive sequence

While the organismic lens sees development as a progressive process, contextualists see development as successive. Progressive implies that development occurs in steps, while the contextualist's successive sequence recognizes no progressive steps, only "a unique and temporary response in a sociohistorical context" (Goldhaber, 2000, p. 310). In other words, development is situational, not universal.