cont......Contextual Theory (development - notes) Psychology

Contextual Theory -  Neither the environment or the organism is static.  Development takes place in a dynamic context where organism and environment interact.  Every act changes the context and the actor, creating new conditions for development.  The changing person acts on and changes the environment and the environment acts back to change the person.  Development is continuous since previous outcomes, influence subsequent change.  Development is discontinuous as well.  Brofenbenner's ecological approach is both quantitative since people change how much they do, as well as qualitative in terms of how they go about doing.   There is no particular path or goal suitable for everyone.  Thus, individual difference is emphasised and individual success is understood on how appropriate behaviour is to the context.