Robert Kegan, a developmental psychologist at Harvard, revolutionized our understanding of adult development. His theory shows that psychological growth doesn't stop in childhood but continues throughout our entire lives. The key insight is that adults develop by changing how they make meaning of their experiences and relationships. Kegan identified five distinct stages of adult development, each representing a more complex way of understanding ourselves and our world.
Kegan's theory identifies five distinct stages of adult development. Stage 1 is the Impulsive Mind, where people are driven by immediate needs and cannot control their impulses. Stage 2 is the Imperial Mind, characterized by a self-centered perspective where one's own needs come first. Stage 3 is the Socialized Mind, where individuals seek approval from others and are largely defined by their relationships. Stage 4 is the Self-Authoring Mind, where people create their own values and engage in independent thinking. Finally, Stage 5 is the Self-Transforming Mind, where individuals can embrace contradictions and see multiple perspectives simultaneously.
The core of Kegan's theory is the subject-object relationship. This describes what we are 'subject' to versus what we can take as 'object'. When we are subject to something, we ARE it - we cannot see it or control it because it controls us. When we can take something as object, we HAVE it - we can observe it, reflect on it, and control it. Development happens when we move things from subject to object. For example, a child might be subject to their emotions, meaning emotions control them. As they develop, they can take emotions as object, meaning they can observe and manage their emotions rather than being controlled by them.