Question

What is development? Differentiate between growth and development.

Hint:

{Remember:}

• {Growth = Quantity} (how much? size, weight)
• {Development = Quality + Quantity} (how well? skills, abilities)
• Growth stops; Development continues lifelong
• Growth is visible; Development is often invisible but observable through behavior

Answer 1

Development

Definition

Development refers to the systematic, progressive, and orderly changes that occur in an individual throughout the lifespan. It includes physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes, involving both quantitative and qualitative transformations.

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Key Features of Development

• Lifelong process (from conception to death)
• Includes both growth (quantitative) and maturation (qualitative)
• Follows a predictable sequence but varies individually
• Influenced by heredity and environment
• Holistic in nature—all aspects are interconnected

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Difference Between Growth and Development

Basis of Difference	Growth	Development
Meaning	Quantitative increase in size, height, weight, etc.	Both quantitative and qualitative changes in overall functioning
Nature	Physical and measurable	Comprehensive and multidimensional
Scope	Limited to physical aspects	Includes physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects
Measurement	Measured in units (cm, kg, etc.)	Assessed through behavior and performance
Lifespan	Stops after maturity	Continues throughout life
Examples	Increase in height or weight	Improved thinking, language, emotional control
Process	Structural and cellular changes	Functional and organizational changes
Temporal Nature	Occurs for a limited period	Lifelong process

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Example

• Growth: A child's height increasing from 100 cm to 110 cm.
• Development: The child learning problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and social interaction.

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Conclusion

Growth is a component of development, focusing mainly on physical changes, whereas development is a broader concept that includes all progressive changes in an individual across the lifespan.