ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the developmental pathways of spiritual formation in theology and of human development in psychology. Two key resources for "thinking developmentally", are attachment and differentiation, and the chapter considers how different forms of attachment impact relationality and spirituality. Since dis-integration is an integral part of development and formation, it explores the concept of dis-integration from psychological and theological perspectives. In considering developmental perspectives for integration, the chapter highlights two overlapping concepts drawn from psychology and theology, respectively: human development and spiritual formation. To sum up, the developmental processes of attachment impact capacities for conflict management, collaboration, and various types of integration, thus making integration a relational and a developmental process. It will not be sufficient to simply encourage people to work harder to collaborate or to put students, scholars, or professionals into "collaborative learning groups", if they hold insecure attachment templates and lack capacities for self-awareness and self-regulation.
