| Psychology as a science is developing with | | | | common factor of all theories regarding |
| close connection with other sciences, but the | | | | psychological development is that the person |
| greatest influence it suffers from is in | | | | is central figure. The key elements that are |
| sociological science. A person is product of | | | | prevalent along all the theories are the |
| his self and the manner by which his | | | | importance of cognitive development and |
| environment affects him. In all theoretical | | | | perceptions and behavioral orientation. |
| models regarding the development of a | | | | Critical periods for psychological |
| personality, the conscious person is supposed | | | | developmental have been identified as early |
| to be motivated by internal interactions | | | | childhood and adolescence. However, there has |
| within his person. These two levels of | | | | been recent debate regarding the development |
| personality interact with his environment and | | | | of the psychology of a person into stages. |
| affect him individualistically developing his | | | | Like the concept of normalcy, the stages of |
| unique personality and psychological | | | | psychological development are now being |
| identity. Social theories are used to | | | | studied whether they are to be used as |
| understand and explain the tendencies, | | | | standards or guidelines. One contention is |
| patterns or movement of both individuals and | | | | that psychological development which |
| society based on the context of the social | | | | encompasses the person: his biology, |
| order they occur in. Socials only are able to | | | | orientation and perception; and the world he |
| explain aspects of behavior and may be | | | | moves in: the social structure, norms, |
| difficult to apply in a universally. A | | | | traditions, perceptions and environments. In |
| person's psychological development may follow | | | | this view, psychological development is |
| psychological models or social behavior | | | | considered a lifetime interactive process |
| models but will vary greatly based on the | | | | that continues and perpetuates itself during |
| history, anthropology, economics, politics, | | | | the lifetime of a person. |
| theology and biology of the person. The | | | | |