Learning and Development

Development and learning are natural phenomenon; these factors start from birth and continue till individual’s death. The main element is change and development involves movement from one state to another. Consequently an interest in development leads an individual to concern for transitions. The second significant impact of change is consistency, whether it is permanent or temporary. However, development is not change of any kind. For example feeling of satiety after one’s favorite meal, clearly shows a change but no one consider that as a development. Lasting change is not to provide a pleasing and satisfactory solution, because some adjustments that are apparently developmental but sometimes have short term effects; these changes occurs and serve their purpose but they do not have long term imprint. However these changes are definitely necessary for development. (Rutter and Rutter 1992: 63). Third essential element of development is growth, which is a progression of certain stages. It is normally linked to a movement toward a certain point. In individuals physical growth stops at certain age but personality growth continues and leads to maturity. Maturity is presumably demonstrated differently in different societies and culture. So like adulthood, individuality, inner unity and self-actualization have different explanations and notions in different cultures and societies.
Building on these elements Rutter and Rutter (1992: 64) defined development in relation to humans: “Systematic, organized, intra-individual change that is clearly associated with generally expectable age-related progressions and which is carried forward in some way that has implications for a person's pattern or level of functioning at some later time.” However today due to the advancement of genetic research and more sophisticated gratitude of the self make it easier to understand that how nature and nurture affect individuals to develop their personalities.
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