Do the following two statements mean the same? Justify your answer. (a) People have different developmental goals. (b) People have conflicting developmental goals.
No, the two statements do not mean the same thing.
Statement (a) means that different persons can have different developmental goals based on their life situations and aspirations. People seek things that are most important for them. For example, different persons or groups may seek different things according to their needs.
Statement (b) is more specific. It means that two persons or groups may seek things which are conflicting. For instance, a girl may expect freedom and opportunity, but her brother may not like sharing household work. Similarly, industrialists may want more dams for electricity, but this may submerge land and disrupt the lives of tribals who might prefer small check dams instead. What may be development for one may even be destructive for the other.
Explanation
The textbook clearly distinguishes between 'different' and 'conflicting' developmental goals. Different goals simply mean varied aspirations based on life situations. Conflicting goals are a specific case where one person's development harms or opposes another's interests. The examples of the girl vs. her brother, and industrialists vs. tribals illustrate this conflict well.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Explain what 'different developmental goals' means - varied aspirations based on life situations.
Step 2: Explain what 'conflicting developmental goals' means - goals that oppose each other.
Step 3: Provide examples from the text showing the difference - girl/brother and industrialists/tribals.