Adult development is a branch of developmental psychology that deals specifically with how adults age through physical, emotional, and cognitive means. One simple breakdown of the field is to look at its three dimensions.
- Dimension 1: change: loss, stasis, positive adult development
- Dimension 2: types of change: maturation, learning, developmental stage
- Dimension 3: psychological processes in adult development.
For example, positive adult developmental may be divided into at least six parts: hierarchical complexity, (orders, stages), knowledge, experience, expertise, wisdom, and spirituality.
Nondevelopmental forms include adulthood and adult human behavior.
While adult development has long been a subject reserved for academia and medical professions, in recent years, adult development has become an integral part of leadership and executive development.
Read more about Adult Development: Studies, Four Adult Development Theories
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