Theory of Robert Havingshurst

Robert Havingshurst

Robert Havingshurst identified 6 major stages in human life which are from birth to old age:

Stage 1: Infancy and early childhood (Birth - 6 years old)

Stage 2: Middle childhood (6-13 years old)

Stage 3: Adolescence (13-18 years old)

Stage 4: Early adulthood (19-30 years old)

Stage 5: Middle age (30-60 years old)

Stage 6: Late maturity (60 years and over)


       Besides, Havingshurst has proposed that each human has three sources for development tasks.

Source 1: Tasks that arise from physical maturation: Learning to walk, talk, control of bowel an urine, behaving in an acceptable manner to opposite sex, adjusting to menopuase.

Source 2: Tasks that arise from personal values: Choosing an occupation, figuring out ones philosophical outlook.

Source 3: Tasks that have their source in the pressures of society: Learning to read, learning to be responsible citizen.

The developmental tasks model that Havighurst developed was age dependent and all served pragmatic functions depending on their age.

Source: Robert_J._Havighurst

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