Self-in-relation: development as growth within relationship rather than toward individuation¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Drawn from the Stone Center writers (Jordan, Kaplan, Miller, Stiver & Surrey), this account holds that maturation is "an evolutionary process of development through relationship." The authors contrast it with the traditional formulation of development from attachment to separation, quoting that growth is "not toward greater degrees of autonomy or individuation" but toward maintaining connection. It frames agency as operating within communion across the lifespan.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Relationships that encourage and challenge those involved to maintain connection

Constraints¶

• Presented as a perspective from women's psychology that the authors integrate selectively as synthesizers

Target Learners¶

• adolescents and adults moving towards intimacy

Target Learning Objectives¶

• self-development
• relational maturity

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Agency/communion as figure/ground rather than polarity

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Sheldon-Keller, Adrienne & West, Malcolm. (1995). Attachment within the Agency/Communion Paradigm. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED395227