human development theories

Human development theories explore how people grow and change throughout their lives. They analyze physical, emotional, social, and cognitive progress from childhood to adulthood. For example, Erik Erikson's theory emphasizes the importance of overcoming challenges at different life stages to build a healthy personality. Jean Piaget focused on how thinking and understanding develop in children. These theories help us understand the factors influencing growth, guide education and parenting, and support addressing developmental difficulties. Overall, they provide a framework for understanding the complex, ongoing process of becoming oneself across a lifetime.