Inter-Relationship between Growth, Development, Maturation and Learning

Back to: Learning and Teaching – Unit 1

Growth

Growth, development, maturation, and learning are closely related topics. Growth refers to the increase in size. It is the process of something growing. It is a physical and quantifiable process. For example, an increase in your height or weight.

Development

Development refers to the process of developing or evolution. For example, the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Maturation

Maturation refers to the process of becoming mature over time and reaching the full phase of development. For example, having a career when you turn into an adult. Learning refers to the acquisition of new skills and knowledge.

Inter-Relationship Between Growth, Development, Maturation and Learning

1. The growth of the body is important for determining your behavioral pattern. Normal growth is important for the normal development of behavior. This will help in proper brain development which will foster learning and therefore, help one to attain maturation.
2. The growth of certain muscles in an individual is important for the individual to have the ability to take up certain activities and go through the process of maturation.
3. The renowned psychologist Piaget believed that development leads to learning but this thought is still debated as many researchers believed that learning leads to development.
4. Social interaction takes place when a child is in the presence of others instead of when they are in isolation. They start learning through this interaction which aids in the developmental process and also helps them attain maturation.
5. The growth of a child is necessary for proper development of body organs which is important for the process of maturation. Once they have achieved proper growth, maturation, and development, effective learning can take place.
6. Childhood experiences play an important role in helping the individual develop and nature and the changes they need to go through can only be understood by them when they go through the process of learning.
7. Learning enables the individuals to understand the process of growth, the different developmental patterns, and the changes one goes through during maturation. This allows them to adapt to a new environment.

Conclusion

Although the concepts of growth, development, maturation, and learning are different, they are interconnected and are only effective in the presence of one another.