Developing Competence intellectual competence a. knowledge acquisition b. Developing competence gives the student an increasing capability to manage a variety of social situations from talking in class to meeting strangers. Without gaining some of the confidence maturation along this vector provides, maturation along sequential vectors may be difficult. Through Vectors Chickering's theory states that students progress through the first three vectors simultaneously during the freshman and sophomore years. Some progression along the first three vectors is a prerequisite for the fourth vector.
Students generally progress through the fourth vector during their sophomore and junior years.
During the junior and senior years students progress simultaneously through the last three vectors. Students progress through the vectors at different rates and may recycle through some vectors. Development is not simply a maturation process, but requires stimulation through challenge and support. If students do not feel anyone cares about them or their success, if they feel ignored by the mainstream and not accepted, they will fee marginal, and, therefore, are much less likely to succeed in college. Perry's Cognitive Theory of Student Development William Perry's cognitive theory of student development examines nine positions tracing the evolution of traditionally aged students' thinking about the nature of knowledge, truth and values, and meaning of life and responsibilities.