#CSAM18 Day 3: Chickering and 7 Vectors
Chickering is where many student affairs development theory classes and conversation start. I think of it as the foundational theory of where we started to really look at how college students develop. It provided a framework to think about the changes students experienced and how we can use that framework as professionals. Chickering believed that going through identity development is the main type of development during young adulthood, which is when (at the time) most white men attended college. The vectors are based in Erikson's theory.
The seven vectors include: Developing Competence, Managing Emotions, Moving Through Autonomy, Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships, Establishing Identity, Developing Purpose, and Developing Integrity. Students go through the stages sequentially, starting with developing competencies, such as intellectually and interpersonally, learning to create a positive self identity, creating clear purpose and commitments, and then to developing a “personalized value system” (Ackerman, et al, 2003). It basically outlines how college students develop into independent adults.
Theory name: Vectors of Development
Year theory was published: 1969
Students originally studied: Chickering originally studied undergraduate white men from 13 different colleges, although the theory was later expanded in 1993 by Chickering and Reisser. This expansion included women and students of color, among other demographic groups.
Background of the author: He's a white dude that originally studied other college-aged and affluent white dudes. He continues to contribute to the higher education field, but it's hard to find more information than that from Google.
How theory can be used now: We can still use this framework to help us understand what our students might be going through.
Words of warning: Research was on mostly young, straight, affluent white men - although it was expanded, many of our college students are no longer traditional, and we have a better understanding of how different backgrounds can affect development of students. This is a good theory to start with, but I wouldn't solely rely on it.
The seven vectors include: Developing Competence, Managing Emotions, Moving Through Autonomy, Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships, Establishing Identity, Developing Purpose, and Developing Integrity. Students go through the stages sequentially, starting with developing competencies, such as intellectually and interpersonally, learning to create a positive self identity, creating clear purpose and commitments, and then to developing a “personalized value system” (Ackerman, et al, 2003). It basically outlines how college students develop into independent adults.
Theory name: Vectors of Development
Year theory was published: 1969
Students originally studied: Chickering originally studied undergraduate white men from 13 different colleges, although the theory was later expanded in 1993 by Chickering and Reisser. This expansion included women and students of color, among other demographic groups.
Background of the author: He's a white dude that originally studied other college-aged and affluent white dudes. He continues to contribute to the higher education field, but it's hard to find more information than that from Google.
How theory can be used now: We can still use this framework to help us understand what our students might be going through.
Words of warning: Research was on mostly young, straight, affluent white men - although it was expanded, many of our college students are no longer traditional, and we have a better understanding of how different backgrounds can affect development of students. This is a good theory to start with, but I wouldn't solely rely on it.
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