So the fundamental tension here, among the global theories of adult development, is between more holistic ones and the more reductionist Model of Hierarchical Complexity (MHC) of Michael Commons. In this sense, Commons’ theory stands alone against all of the others. Whereas Kegan’s psychoanalytically influenced theory (drawing on the humanities rather than behavioral science) relates to intimate things such as the evolving sense of self, the MHC does nothing of the sort.
