Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

Who is known for proposing developmental tasks throughout the human lifespan?

1. Jean Piaget

2. Erik Erikson

3. Robert Havighurst

4. Sigmund Freud

The correct answer is: Robert Havighurst

The identification of Robert Havighurst as the one who proposed developmental tasks throughout the human lifespan is based on his influential work in human development. Havighurst outlined specific tasks that individuals are expected to achieve at different stages of life, which focus on personal and societal expectations. His framework delineates developmental challenges that people encounter from infancy through old age, highlighting the importance of mastering these tasks to foster physical, cognitive, and social growth. Havighurst classified these tasks into three main categories: those that are biological, those that are cultural, and those that are personal, which underscores the interplay between individual development and social context. This perspective reflects a more pragmatic approach to development, emphasizing the skills and competencies necessary to navigate the changing demands of life. In contrast, while figures like Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Sigmund Freud contributed significantly to developmental psychology, they focused on different aspects. Piaget's work centered primarily around cognitive development and how children perceive and interact with the world, Erikson emphasized psychosocial development through eight stages of identity and relationship formation, and Freud's theories concentrated on psychosexual stages of development. Each of these theorists presented valuable insights, yet it is Havighurst's emphasis on developmental tasks that distinctly characterizes his