The Mantle of Maturity: A History of Ideas About Character DevelopmentSUNY Press, 1988 M01 1 - 243 pages Kiefer presents a comprehensive overview of the key historical concepts of developmental psychology--maturity and maturation. The result of this historical focus is a view of maturity that accounts for both the social forces shaping beliefs and the social consequences of those beliefs. Here is a bridge between developmental psychology, history, and contemporary society. The author begins by presenting his view of the role of ideas in history and the importance of the idea of moral maturity in psychological science, as well as in the process of understanding self. The history of maturity as a moral ideal is presented, beginning with primitive society. Key features of Medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment, and modern Western society that have influenced ideas of maturity are considered in turn. In part II, Kiefer examines beliefs about the actual process of growth and development from earlier, nonliterate society and into the present. Attempts to unite the philosophic and scientific concepts of development are discussed, such as the Platonic "path of love" as represented by Carol Gilligan, the Aristotelian "path of reason" by Lawrence Kohlberg, and Freud's "path of conflict." Cultural-historical explanations are sought for the particulars of these interplays. In the concluding section, Plato's "four indestructible stages" of maturity and implications of modern life for the attainment of these stages are evaluated. Kiefer makes a plea for an historically self-conscious psychology. By bringing together concepts from anthropology, philosophy, psychology, and history, the author presents a synthetic view of maturing that has fundamental applications in the fields of human development, social gerontology, philosophy, and psychotherapy. |
Contents
Introduction Maturity Culture and History | 1 |
MATURITY AND MORALS | 17 |
Maturity Without History | 18 |
Transcendence of Death Maturity in the Ancient World | 28 |
The Middle Ages Decline of the Tribe | 46 |
The Loss of Hierarchy Passion and Restraint | 64 |
Modern Times Maturity as Mental Health | 76 |
THE EVOLUTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY | 91 |
Functionalism Nature Versus Nurture | 133 |
STUDIES IN SELFCONSCIOUS PSYCHOLOGY | 153 |
Paths of the Soul Love Reason Conflict | 154 |
History and the Interpersonal Altruism and Aggression | 174 |
History and the Self The FourStage Legacy | 188 |
A Prescription for Irony | 206 |
References | 217 |
231 | |
Before Developmental Theory | 92 |
Developmental Metaphysics The Middle Ages | 103 |
Precritical Versus Postcritical Psychology | 114 |
Other editions - View all
The Mantle of Maturity: A History of Ideas About Character Development Christie W. Kiefer Limited preview - 1988 |
The Mantle of Maturity: A History of Ideas about Character Development Christie W. Kiefer No preview available - 1988 |
The Mantle of Maturity: A History of Ideas About Character Development Christie W. Kiefer No preview available - 1988 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham Maslow achievement altruism altruism and aggression Aquinas Aristotle attitude basic behavior belief biological Carol Gilligan century chapter Christian classical competition complex concept of maturity conflict consciousness culture developmental psychology developmental theory Duns Scotus early effects emotional empiricism empiricist Enlightenment environment Erich Fromm Erik Erikson Erikson ethical example experience feelings Freud function goals Greek Hebrews heroism Hobbes human ideal ideas of maturity important individual intellectual ironic social science knowledge Kohlberg Lawrence Kohlberg lives man's Maslow means medieval mental method Middle Ages mind modern moral maturity natural nonliterate notion one's path Peter Abelard philosophy Plato positivist postcritical precritical primitive principles problem questions rational relationship religion Renaissance result ritual role romantic Saint self-conscious sense sexual society soul spiritual stage four superego teleology things thought tradition Transcendent Universe transcendental truth understanding values views of maturity virtue Vita Activa Western