Development is not always a smooth, linear process.

Think about various patterns of development that may be observed in dierent areas of knowledge. How are these patterns dierent? Here are some examples to give you a general direction.

● Evolution of species: combinations of genes occur randomly; however, as certain genotypes die out because they are less adapted to environmental demands, more successful genotypes are gradually consolidated.

● Revolution in the development of political systems:

governments are overthrown and replaced, which sometimes causes dramatic changes in society.

● Paradigm shifts in sciences: a critical mass of new evidence triggers the process of rethinking the very foundations of science.

Which of these examples do you think is most similar to the development of a human child?