Final answer:
Continuous development is the view that development is a cumulative process, gradually improving on existing skills, in contrast to discontinuous development that happens in stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The view that development is a cumulative process, gradually adding to the same type of skills is known as continuous development. This concept suggests that people gradually improve on existing skills over time, much like how a child grows taller incrementally year after year. Continuous development contrasts with discontinuous development, where development is seen to occur in distinct stages, marked by sudden changes, such as the development of object permanence in infants.
For example, imagine a child learning to play the piano. Under the continuous development view, the child's ability and knowledge would increase progressively with each lesson, rather than the child suddenly jumping to advanced levels of proficiency without the gradual improvement stage. The idea of continuous development is a topic studied by developmental psychologists who are interested in the progression of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains throughout a person's life.