Which statement best contrasts Maslow and Havighurst's focus?

Which statement best contrasts Maslow and Havighurst's focus?

• A. Maslow and Havighurst both focus on cognitive development
• B. Maslow focuses on needs, Havighurst focuses on developmental tasks
• C. Havighurst focuses on behavioral conditioning, Maslow on social development
• D. Both emphasize genetic determinants of development

Answer: (B)

Maslow’s approach centers on needs as the primary motivators of behavior, moving from basic physiological needs up to self-actualization. Havighurst, in contrast, emphasizes developmental tasks—societally expected challenges at different ages that people should master to develop successfully within a culture. So the strongest contrast is that Maslow focuses on needs, while Havighurst focuses on developmental tasks. The other ideas don’t fit: behavioral conditioning and social development aren’t the core emphases of Havighurst or Maslow, and genetic determinants aren’t the focus of either theory.

Maslow’s approach centers on needs as the primary motivators of behavior, moving from basic physiological needs up to self-actualization. Havighurst, in contrast, emphasizes developmental tasks—societally expected challenges at different ages that people should master to develop successfully within a culture. So the strongest contrast is that Maslow focuses on needs, while Havighurst focuses on developmental tasks. The other ideas don’t fit: behavioral conditioning and social development aren’t the core emphases of Havighurst or Maslow, and genetic determinants aren’t the focus of either theory.