Human Development and the Model of Hierarchical Complexity: Learning from Research in the Psychology of Moral and Religious Development

Abstract

Critical consideration is given the empirical evidence for psychological models of religious development, its supposed relationship to other domains of psychological development, and especially, moral development. Significant problems with stage conceptions in these models augur a fundamental rethinking of religious development as a construct in developmental psychology. Model of Hierarchical Complexity has demonstrable promise for enabling greater precision in constructs and methods. This may resolve some central problems and advance research in the field.

KEYWORDS:

• Human development
• Model of Hierarchical Complexity
• moral development
• psychology
• religious development
• stage