Sanford’s Theory of Living Systems a human capacity triad of locus of control, consideration of others, and personal agency.
Sanford’s three-dimensional developmental model is based upon three core human capacities, where each dimension of human capacity lies on a continuum from external control to internal control, from a focus on self to a focus on the consideration of others.
Her three dimensions are:
What is distinct about Sanford’s work is how she wraps it into a paradigm or three-dimensional mental model that is inclusive of others. Consideration of others is a significant dimension in that social context offers each of us a sense of place and circumstance beyond ourselves. These three dimensions are always situated in one of three contexts for our purposes—family, school, community—and their corresponding cultures, each with their own norms and expectations that shape individual and collective behavior.
