Compare contrast the two developmental construction views of relationships free essay sample

Developmental construction views on relationships assert that as each individual grows up, he or she attains different modes of relating to other people (Santrock, 2007, p. 276). This view basically eschews Freud’s theory on psychosexual development and has two variations that depend on the continuity and stability of the relationship.   The two developmental construction views of relationships are the continuity view and the discontinuity view (Santrock, 2007, p. 276). The continuity view generally stresses the vital role that early child-parent relationships in influencing and shaping the nature of the relationship that a young individual forms as he or she grows older. According, to this view, the relationship a child has with his or her parents continues to adolescence and eventually affects the way he or she forms relationships with his peers, dates or the opposite sex, and other people (Santrock, 2007, p. 277). This view was further substantiated by the research of Alan Stroufe and his colleagues in which they assessed 15 volunteers who had close relationships with their parents, and as a result, formed similar relationships during camp retreats. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare contrast the two developmental construction views of relationships or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On the other hand, the discontinuity view focuses on the different changes and growth in relationships as time passes. Based on this view, the relationships that an individual develops as he or she grows up, which include relationships with teachers, peers, parents, and romantic partners, are structurally different from one another (Santrock, 2007, p. 278). For example, peer relationships involve individuals who relate to each other as equals. On the other hand, in child/adolescent-parent relationships, the parent is the higher authority. Meaning to say, the early child parent relationship does not necessarily affect an individuals modes of forming future relationships. The discontinuity view was evidenced by the study of Andrew Collins and his colleagues in which they related the quality of friendship interaction during middle childhood with dating and intimacy with a partner (Santrock, 2007, p. 278). References Santrock, J. W. (2007). Adolescence 12th edition. McGraw-Hill/Social Sciences/Languages.