ABSTRACT
A recent chapter (Demick, 1999, p. 177) on parental development began with the following paragraphs:
Since that time, my daughter and son, now aged 15 and 12 years, respectively, have continued to supply unexpected stimuli, though differing in content and form. These stimuli, which have necessitated the continued reestablishment of dynamic equilibrium in my self-world relationships, or in what I have alternatively termed my person-in-environment system (e.g., Wapner and Demick, 1998), have clearly been occasions formyown cognitive and psychosocial development.AsGutmann
(1975, p. 1) has stated, “Parenthood is a powerful generator of development. It gives us an opportunity to refine and express who we are, to learn what we can be, to become different.” However, assuming that parenthood is a powerful generator of growth and change, the questions become, What is the genesis of parental growth and/or change? Are there stages of parental development and, if so, what are their determinants? If there are stages, what motivates a parent to move from one stage to another?
