DST’s Theoretical Foundation

Contributions of Other Theories to Developmental Systems Theory (DST)

DST is the outcome of our work as synthesizers. We are constantly integrating new knowledge into our own developmental perspective. When we encounter novel thoughts or perspectives, we compare them to our own and think about how they might expand our view of things. When we encounter disagreement, we looking for the grain of truth in it, which often gives us new insight into a topic.

Wherever new ideas come from, our evaluator/synthesizer minds run quickly kick into higher order thinking. This not only creates new thoughts and knowledge, but novel concepts and innovative ideas. Sometimes these new ideas are useful to the discussion at hand and shared. Other times they’re or stored away for another time. Either way, they’re all the result of active learning through synthesis.

We also learn something from every person we meet. Dialogue, conversations and social interaction simulates our thinking in ways that often give nuances and new meaning to our work. Our learning styles are always-on, never-off!

DST, a meta-theory that we synthesized over our many years of personal and professional work,  forms the foundation for our developmental model. It is anchored in new research from the fields of psychobiology, brain research, bioenergetics, psychodynamic and developmental theories, transpersonal psychology, humanistic psychology, pre- and perinatal psychology, and cognitivebehavioral psychology. We particularly draw from Arnold Mindell’s Global Process Work theory, Bruce Lipton’s model of fractal evolution, his material on epigenetics, his innovative concepts of cellular consciousness, conscious parenting, and electromagnetic medicine; Porges & Carter’s Polyvagal Theory; Allen Schore’s Theory of Affect Regulation, and both the theory and language of quantum sciences as described in terms such as the physics of love, the heart-field, HeartMath, and our own, LOVEvolution.

The chart below summarizes the primary contributions from the theories and theorists that we used to create Developmental Systems Theory:

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