Everyone is talking about it, from politicians to sports stars. The idea of ​​growth and personal development. This unique idea is influenced by our brain's chemical connections to various beliefs in deities. His experience as a doctor greatly influenced his work, as demonstrated by his character's psychological changes. AJ Cronin argues in his novels The Stars Look Down and The Citadel that for true personal development to occur, one must have an almost tragic experience for which there seems to be no readily available solution. It demonstrates this through its main characters with their evolving perspectives and settings to eventually become themselves after reaching a low point regarding emotions, morals or the law. Before we can analyze the way in which Cronin demonstrates how an individual becomes self-enlightened it is necessary to explain what the process of personal development is. Personal development includes activities that enhance awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, strengthen human capital and facilitate employability, improve quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. Many discuss the idea in detail, including ways to start development. A prominent figure in the field was Lawrence Kohlberg, an American phycologist. He developed what is commonly known as Kohlberg's three levels and six stages of moral reasoning. The first stage is "pre-conventional" where an individual focuses on obedience and avoidance of punishment and is also considered to be self-oriented. The second stage is “conventional” where the individual is interpersonal and conforms to maintain a social orientation. The last stage, "post-conventional", is arguably middle of paper......who goes to college. In the mine, Joe exhibits a pre-conventional stage of development where he exists to please. others. A quote from one of the old coal miners illuminates this point: “All you have to think about is making your way.” One day you will do something for our industry. Men have high hopes for you, my boy. Here, with the high hopes of others on his shoulders, Joe strives for excellence. Joe finds himself in a slump of depression and confusion after losing his girlfriend, Jenny. Worse than losing her, he discovers that she has left him for another man, David Fenwick, a friend of mine. His feelings are shown in this quote. “Here she is with him again today. It's bad enough that Jenny acts the way she does, but when she's my best friend. I mean, it's more than flesh and blood can handle. I never thought it would be a man like David Fenwick.”