Sociocultural Change and Integrative Syntheses in Human Development: Autonomous-Related Self and Social–Cognitive Competence

Abstract Understanding human development in the context of socioeconomic–cultural change requires a consideration of both the contextual and the global aspects of development that involves an “integrative synthesis” of the 2. Such a synthesis may be considered a conceptual model or goal of human development and may be observed in different spheres of development. This article proposes “autonomous-related self” and “cognitive–social competence” as 2 integrative syntheses that provide insight into adaptations to changing environmental demands and suggests that although they are not adequately recognized in psychology, these syntheses can be considered as aspects of optimal development. The article presents the 22-year longitudinal Turkish Early Enrichment Project as a case in point that illustrates the relevance of these integrative syntheses, as well as how they can be promoted.