Which term describes the development pattern where general skills appear before specific skills?

Which term describes the development pattern where general skills appear before specific skills?

• A. Cephalocaudal pattern.
• B. Mass-to-specific development.
• C. Sequential development.
• D. Proximodistal pattern.

Answer: (B)

Mass-to-specific development describes a progression from broad, general skills to refined, specific skills. This pattern is seen in infants as large muscle activities emerge first—like lifting the head, sitting up, or crawling—before precise hand skills develop, such as a pincer grasp or manipulating small objects. The other terms describe different directions of development: cephalocaudal means control starts at the head and moves downward toward the feet, and proximodistal means control starts at the midline and moves outward toward the limbs. A term like sequential development isn’t the standard way this pattern is described.

Mass-to-specific development describes a progression from broad, general skills to refined, specific skills. This pattern is seen in infants as large muscle activities emerge first—like lifting the head, sitting up, or crawling—before precise hand skills develop, such as a pincer grasp or manipulating small objects. The other terms describe different directions of development: cephalocaudal means control starts at the head and moves downward toward the feet, and proximodistal means control starts at the midline and moves outward toward the limbs. A term like sequential development isn’t the standard way this pattern is described.