Human development refers to the growth and progress that occurs in people’s lives, as well as their surroundings. It can include economic, social and environmental factors. It is a multidisciplinary subject that requires theories, research methods and knowledge bases from several academic disciplines.
The development of a country is often defined by its level of per capita income. This is a measure of the value of goods and services produced, per person, in the country each year.
Developing countries are those with low per capita incomes and poor quality of life. They also tend to have large populations under the age of 15.
Understanding development can be a difficult task, because many aspects are dependent on the cultural context in which it takes place. This means that much of what developmental theorists have described in the past has not been directly transferable to other cultures, as it can be extremely challenging to understand what makes development unique to a particular culture.
Meta-Theories of Human Development
The study of human development is based on a number of assumptions that are common to many researchers. These assumptions are called meta-theories, and they include such things as the role of nature (genes) or nurture (environment and learning), the importance of stability versus change, the role of the individual in his or her own development, and whether development follows a universal pathway or depends more on specific experiences and environmental contexts.
Development can be a complex topic, but it is a vital one. Investing in development programs can make your company more successful, especially if you are in an industry where a lack of skills can be costly and time-consuming to overcome.