Axia College Material
Appendix C

Leovinger’s Stages of Development

Directions: Using the matrix, fill out the appropriate information for each box.

Stage | Approximate age rangeEx. Infant, young adult, etc.(.5 points each) | Description of each stage of development(1.5 points each) | Specific example of a behavior an individual would exhibit in this stage of developmentEx. Individual would stay up late to help a friend with a project because they wanted to help their friend succeed.(1.5 points each) | Impulsive | Child, young adult can lead to adulthood in some | This stage is characterized by bodily feelings and dependency. Manifestations of reactions to reward, restraint or punishment are all part of this stage. | Ex: Individual is sexually curious and is touching themselves inappropriately. | Self-protected | Child, Young adult and adult | During this stage, the first elements of self control are demonstrated. Manipulation and wariness also can emerge at this stage. Reward and punishment can be already noted during this stage. This also translates into the person putting blame on another. | Ex: There is writing on the wall of the house, the person whom did it states it must have been such and such. | Conformist | Child | Approval seeking is exhibited during this stage. Social acceptance and physical appearance are considered valuable during this phase. | Ex: Sally and all her group of friends all wear the same thing and sit at the same lunch table. | Conscientious-conformist | adult | Approval seeking becomes less important. One’s own processes and mind come to awareness here. This includes an awareness of values and personal feelings. | Ex: The individual is brought into a group discussion and he listens to everyone’s point of view and takes all into consideration before giving his point of view based on facts. | Conscientious | Child, young adult and adult | A strong sense of identity as being separate from a group becomes established during this stage. Goal setting and actively evaluating right and wrong are also characteristics of this stage. | Ex: Boys picks on a group of kids daily. One day he knocks the books from a childs hand another walks over and helps him pick them up and tells them not to worry about the boy. | Individualistic | Adult | During this stage, the inner self is manifested and recognized. Inner conflicts between the vision of the aware self and the outer world can emerge during this stage. | Ex: Individual has goals of becoming successful and then thinks about all the reason they will not be such as being overweight. | Autonomous | Adult | Inner conflicts usually characterize this stage whenever what the individual desires is not what they know they should do. During this stage, self-fulfillment can be seen to manifest. | Ex: The individual wants to go out and have drinks on a week night knowing they have to be up early for work in the am and they will have a hard time doing their job if they do. | Integrated | Adult | It is common during this stage that self-actualization becomes manifest. Here, the individual has genuinely developed and come to terms with their own real identity. | Ex: I am who I am I will do what I want and no one will stop me. I am unique and I will be everything I set out to be. |