Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

Which type of theorist believes that developmental strides are qualitative?

1. Behaviorists

2. Organicism

3. Psychometrics

4. Connectionism

The correct answer is: Organicism

The belief that developmental strides are qualitative aligns with the organicism theory. Organicism posits that development is a progressive and holistic process where changes in an individual’s abilities occur in stages that are distinct and qualitatively different from one another. This notion emphasizes that as individuals grow and develop, they undergo significant transformations that alter their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning in ways that cannot simply be quantified or measured by numbers alone. In contrast, other theoretical approaches like behaviorism tend to emphasize observable behaviors and their reinforcement, often focusing on quantitative measures of learning through stimulus-response patterns. Psychometrics is concerned with the measurement of abilities and intelligence, usually employing numerical data to assess development. Connectionism, particularly in the context of learning theories, focuses on the formation of connections between stimuli and responses but does not specifically address the qualitative nature of development. Thus, the organicism perspective strongly supports the notion of qualitative developmental changes, making it the correct choice in the context of this question.