We are all on the developmental spectrum- some further along than others and some having to relearn things depending on what we learned or missed along our journeys. Before we talk about Student Developmental theory- recognizing that your own development impacts your advising, how you engage with students, and where you find areas of compassion or hard lines within conversations will help you become a better advisor. Introspective behaviors are important for your personal growth and development as an advisor. 

Before we look at specific Student Developmental Theories, we need to examine Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – the understanding that first the foundational needs must be met before a student can work on their identity development or self-reflective/actualization behaviors. 

There are three main Student Development Theories we'll focus on in this section. Each section has either an overview or a short video to guide your understanding of these student developmental theories. Take notes along the way to help build your understanding of the student development theories below. 

Student Development theory looks at how students grow and develop through the years attending college. It’s important for you as an advisor to understand this so you can provide better advice, response, and help with student retention through these stages. 

Within Student Developmental theory there are three sub categories: 

• Cognitive theories (the way a student thinks)

• Psychosocial and Identity theories (the theories of student’s identity)

• Environmental Interaction theories (how a student interacts with their environment). 

Our focus will be more on the psychosocial portion of student development- specifically looking at three theorist: Chickeing, Dweck, and Erikson.