Reciprocal Interweaving: A Contribution to the Understanding of Adult Development

Gesell (1939) introduced the term reciprocal interweaving to describe the inconsistent expression of behavior common to the maturation process. Although the concept has been used to characterize development during infancy and childhood, it has not been applied to adult behavior. This article demonstrates that reciprocal interweaving can operate in adulthood and provides examples involving the learning of complex social skills in later life. The examples include personality change as a result of psychotherapy, the acquisition of sex-role behavior, and the effects of assertiveness training.