ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of metatheory. It explains how relational developmental systems metatheory provides design criteria for developmental theories, or models of human development, that focus on the course of specific and mutual influential relations between and individual and his/her context across the life span. The chapter also provides two illustrations of such relational developmental systems theories, that is, developmental contextualism and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s biological model of human development. Theoretical models of development derived from relational developmental systems metatheory depict universal functions of a living, open, self-constructing, self-organizing, and integrated/holistic system. Relational developmental systems-based models have begun to be a major frame for the study of parenting and parenting development research. The bioecological model developed to include two propositions. Both sets of ideas promote a dynamic child to parent relational view of the process of the development of children and their parents.
