Culture and developmental trajectories: a discussion on contemporary theoretical models

Abstract

This paper aims to describe, compare and discuss the theoretical models proposed by Patricia Greenfield, Çiğdem Kağitçibaşi and Heidi Keller. Their models have the common goal of understanding the developmental trajectories of self based on dimensions of autonomy and relatedness that are structured according to specific cultural and environmental aspects. They bring an important contribution to research in the area of Psychology that takes into account the role of context. Greenfield emphasises the importance of socio-demographic variables and social change. For Kağitçibaşi, family plays an important role in self-development, which is understood from two dimensions: agency and interpersonal distance. Finally, Keller contributes to understanding the biologically cultural nature of human development, considering phylogenetic and ontogenetic aspects. The integration and further methodological improvements of three models may have important contributions to the understanding of developmental trajectories in their universal, cultural and socio-demographic aspects.

Keywords:

• developmental trajectories
• self
• theoretical models
• autonomy
• relatedness
• social development

Acknowledgements

This paper was possible thanks to the following funding: a doctoral scholarship by Carlos Chagas Filho Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and the mentored fellowship by International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development and Jacobs Foundation, both granted to first author; grants by FAPERJ, to the second author; by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) to the second and the fourth authors; and a doctoral scholarship by CNPq to the third author. The authors also would like to thank Professor Toni Antonucci for her precise review of this paper.

Notes on contributors

Rafael Vera Cruz de Carvalho is a doctoral student in social psychology at the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and has a master degree in social psychology from the same Graduate Program. His research interests are empathy development, family communication and developmental trajectories of self on an evolutionary developmental perspective.

Maria Lucia Seidl-de-Moura has a PhD in cognitive psychology from Getúlio Vargas Foundation – RJ and a postdoctoral degree in experimental psychology from the University of São Paulo and in clinical psychology from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. She works at the graduate program in social psychology at UERJ and coordinates the research group Social Interaction and Development.

Gabriela Dal Forno Martins is a doctoral student in psychology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and a member of the Childhood and Family Center at the same university. She works in the field of child developmental psychology and its interface with education and health.

Mauro Luís Vieira has a PhD in experimental psychology from the University of São Paulo and a postdoctoral degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. He works with parenting and child development at the graduate program in psychology of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and he coordinates the Center for Research on Child Development.