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19.4: Are there other ways to compare and contrast the four meta-theories?

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    These four meta-theories can be distinguished based on their views about the role of the person (whether people are seen as active versus reactive) and the role of the environment (whether it is seen as active or passive). As pictured in Figure 8.4, Maturational meta-theories posit that development unfolds from a reactive person in a passive environment, whereas Mechanistic meta-theories see development as driven by an active environment operating on a reactive person. Organismic meta-theories argue that development emerges from an active person making use of a passive environment, whereas Contextual meta-theories see development as arising from active people negotiating with their active environments.

    When arranged this way, it also becomes clear that meta-theories that focus on different active ingredients, such as Maturational and Mechanistic, have in common a view of people as reactive, whereas Organismic and Contextual meta-theories view people as active and agentic. The analysis of the difference between Maturational and Mechanistic models, on the one hand, and Organismic and Contextual models, on the other, reveals a deeper issue underlying these models—that many theorists assume refers to the most important meta-issue in developmental science, namely, dualistic versus relational meta-theories.

    This page titled 19.4: Are there other ways to compare and contrast the four meta-theories? is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Ellen A. Skinner, Thomas A. Kindermann, Robert W. Roeser, Cathleen L Smith, Andrew Mashburn & Joel Steele (Portland State University Library) .