Which statement describes the continuous view of change?

Which statement describes the continuous view of change?

• A. Change is sequential and cannot be separated easily (for example, personality development).
• B. Development occurs in discrete stages with clear boundaries.
• C. All change happens in a single leap.
• D. Change only occurs in infancy.

Answer: (A)

Continuous change refers to development unfolding gradually over time, with small, ongoing adjustments that build on what came before. The statement that change is sequential and cannot be separated easily captures this idea because it emphasizes a steady, cumulative process—personality development, for example, tends to shift in small increments rather than in big, abrupt jumps. This stands in contrast to the other ideas: a view of development in discrete stages with clear boundaries describes a discontinuous pattern, where changes happen in steps. Saying all change happens in a single leap suggests a dramatic, one-time transformation, which isn’t how continuous change operates. And claiming change occurs only in infancy wrongly limits development to early life, whereas continuous change is about ongoing, lifelong progression.

Continuous change refers to development unfolding gradually over time, with small, ongoing adjustments that build on what came before. The statement that change is sequential and cannot be separated easily captures this idea because it emphasizes a steady, cumulative process—personality development, for example, tends to shift in small increments rather than in big, abrupt jumps.

This stands in contrast to the other ideas: a view of development in discrete stages with clear boundaries describes a discontinuous pattern, where changes happen in steps. Saying all change happens in a single leap suggests a dramatic, one-time transformation, which isn’t how continuous change operates. And claiming change occurs only in infancy wrongly limits development to early life, whereas continuous change is about ongoing, lifelong progression.