Interpersonal Development

(when the two become interdependent -- a fractal image of seaweed, photo cred: mine)

Interpersonal development is our increasing capacity for collaboration, perspective-taking and coordination.

Perspective-taking means recognizing and empathizing with how aspects of identity (e.g., personal history, race, class, sexual orientation) affect our development and how we relate.

When we think about our relationships, what do we want to accomplish?

We want to progress from depending on someone, such as a parent or codependent partner, to our liberation -- our independence. The final step is interdependence -- when we share a purpose with someone else, like a flow with our partner or a synergism between a co-worker.

Imagine a world where we not only have our freedom or independence, but we only add value to each other's lives.