Chapter 7 - ECT in a Broader Landscape of Theoretic Models

Summary

Chapter 7 uses a set of criteria developed by Ford’s living systems approach and Sameroff’s developmental science of the nature–nurture issue to evaluate ECT with respect to whether ECT satisfies these criteria for addressing various aspects of high-level functioning and developmental underpinnings of excellence. Using these criteria, ECT can be viewed as a person-centered theory of talent development and human excellence that is quite versatile in its explanatory power vis-à-vis a wide range of talent achievement phenomena. In comparison with existing component and process models of TD, ECT goes beyond the nature–nurture dichotomy in addressing a deeper issue often neglected in the mainstream scientific discourse, the role of evolving individuality through culture. Looking into the future, the main challenge for ECT is how to align with developmental science, and how to form intertheoretical dialogues with other branches of research on developmental diversity (e.g., developmental psychopathology and developmental criminology) as branches of developmental sciences, all concerned with improving human conditions (i.e., use-inspired).