On the Individual
Abstract
A description of two cases from my time as a school psychologist in the middle of the 1950s forms the background to the following question: Has anything important happened since then in psychological research to help us to a better understanding of how and why individuals think, feel, act, and react as they do in real life and how they develop over time? The studies serve as a background for some general propositions about the nature of the phenomena that concerns us in developmental research, for a summary description of the developments in psychological research over the last 40 years as I see them, and for some suggestions about future directions.
References
References
Åsberg, M. (1997). Neurotransmitters and suicidal behavior: The evidence from cerebrospinal fluid studies.. In D.M. Stoff (Ed.), The neurobiology of suicide: From the bench to the clinic. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Vol. 836, pp. 158-181). New York: New York Academy of Sciences.Baltes, P.B. Smith, J. (1997). A systemic-holistic view of psychological functioning in very old age: Introduction to a collection of articles from the Berlin aging study.. Psychology and Aging, 12, 395– 409Bargh, J.A. Chartrand, T.L. (1999). The unbearable automaticity of being.. American Psychologist, 54, 462– 479Bergman, L.R. (1993). Some methodological issues in longitudinal research: Looking forward.. In D. Magnusson & P. Casaer (Eds.), Longitudinal research on individual development: Present status and future perspectives (pp. 217-241). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Bergman, L.R. (1998). A pattern-oriented approach to studying individual development: Snapshots and processes.. In R.B. Cairns, L.R. Bergman, & J. Kagan (Eds.), Methods and models for studying the individual (pp. 83-121). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Bergman, L.R. (1999). Studying processes: Some methodological considerations. . Paper presented at the conference Personality in the Life Course: Paths to Successful Development, Jyväskylä, August 25-29, 1999.Bergman, L.R. in press A person approach in research on adolescence: Some methodological challenges.. Journal of Adolescent Research,Bergman, L.R. Magnusson, D. (1997). A person-oriented approach in research on developmental psychopathology.. Development and Psychopathology, 9, 291– 319Cairns, R.B. (1979). Social development: The origins and plasticity of interchanges. . San Francisco, CA: Freeman.Cairns, R.B. (1986). Phenomena lost: Issues in the study of development.. In J. Valsiner (Ed.), The individual subject and scientific psychology (pp. 97-112). New York: Plenum.Cairns, R.B. Cairns, B.D. (1994). Lifelines and risks. Pathways of youth in our time. . Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.Cairns, R.B. Elder, G.H. E.J., Costello (1996). Developmental science. . (Eds.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Caspi, A. Moffit, T. (1991). Individual differences are accentuated during periods of social change: The sample case of girls at puberty.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 157– 168Damasio, A.R. (1994). Decartes' error. Emotion, reason and the Linnéan brain. . New York: Putnam.Damasio, A.R. Damasio, H. (1996). Advances in cognitive neuroscience.. In D. Magnusson (Ed.), The life-span development of individuals: Behavioral, neurobiological and psychosocial perspectives (pp. 265-274). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Depue, R.A. (1995). Neurobiological factors in personality and depression.. European Journal of Personality, 9, 413– 439Edelman, G. (1987). Neural Darwinism: The theory of neuronal group selection. . New York: Basic Books.Fischer, K. Bidell, T.R. (1998). Dynamic development of psychological structures in action and thought.. In W. Damon & R. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology. Vol. 1: Theoretical models of human development (pp. 466-561). New York: WileyHettema, J. (1995). Personality and depression: A multilevel perspective.. European Journal of Psychology, 9, 401– 412Hinde, R.A. (1996). The interpenetration of biology and culture.. In D. Magnusson (Ed.), The life-span development of individuals: Behavioral, neurobiological and psychosocial perspectives (pp. 359-375). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Hull, C.L. (1943). The problem of intervening variables in molar behavior theory.. Psychological Review, 50, 273– 291James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology . (Vol. 1). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.Kagan, J. (1994). Galen's prophecy. Temperament in human nature. . New York: Basic Books.Kelso, J.A. (1995). Dynamic patterns: The self-organization of brain and behavior. . Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Klinteberg, B. Schalling, D. Levander, S.E. Oreland, L. (1988). Personality and neuropsychological correlates of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in female and male subjects.. Pharmacological Research Communication, 20, 147– 148Magnusson, D. (1985). Implications of an interactional paradigm for research on human development.. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 8, 115– 137Magnusson, D. (1988). Individual development from an interactional perspective.. Volume 1 in D. Magnusson (Ed.), Paths through life . Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Magnusson, D. (1991). Back to the phenomena.. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 11, 61– 70Magnusson, D. (1995). Individual development: A holistic integrated model.. In P. Moen, G.H. Elder, & K. Lüscher (Eds.), Linking lives and contexts: Perspectives on the ecology of human development (pp. 19-60). Washington, DC: APA Books.Magnusson, D. (1996a). The patterning of antisocial behavior and autonomic reactivity.. In D.M. Stoff & R.B. Cairns (Eds.), The neurobiology of clinical aggression (pp. 291-308). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Magnusson, D. (1996b). The life-span development of individuals: Behavioral, neurobiological and psychosocial perspectives. A synthesis. . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Magnusson, D. (1998). The logic and implications of a person approach.. In R.B. Cairns, L.R. Bergman, & J. Kagan (Eds.), Methods and models for studying the individual (pp. 33-63). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Magnusson, D. (1999). Holistic interactionism: A perspective for research on personality development.. In L.A. Pervin & O.P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 219-247). New York: Guilford.Magnusson, D. Allen, V.L. (1983). Implications and applications of an interactional perspective for human development.. In D. Magnusson & V.L. Allen (Eds.), Human development: An interactional perspective (pp. 369-387). New York: Academic Press.Magnusson, D. Bergman, L.R. in press Individual development and adaptation: The IDA program.. In C.G. Jansson (Ed.), Swedish longitudinal studies . Stockholm: The Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research.Magnusson, D. Cairns, R.B. (1996). Developmental science: Principles and illustrations.. In R.B. Cairns, G.H. Elder, Jr., & E.J. Costello (Eds), Developmental science (pp. 7-30). New York: Cambridge University Press.Magnusson, D. Dunér, A. Zetterblom, G. (1975). Adjustment—A longitudinal study. . Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell.Magnusson, D. Stattin, H. (1998). Person-context interaction theories.. In R.M. Lerner & W. Damon (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology. Theoretical models of human development (Vol. 1., pp. 685-759). New York: Wiley.Magnusson, D. Stattin, H. Allen, V.L. (1986). Differential maturation among girls and its relation to social adjustment: A longitudinal perspective.. In P. Baltes, D. Featherman, & R.M. Lerner (Eds.), Lifespan development (Vol. 7, pp. 134-172). New York: Academic Press.Mayr, E. (1976). Evolution and the diversity of life. . Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Miller, J.G. (1999). Cultural psychology: Implications for basic psychological theory.. Psychological Science, 10, 85– 91Posner, M.J. Raichle, M.E. (1994). Images of mind. . New York: Scientific American Library.Rose, S. (1995). The rise of neurogenetic determinism.. Nature, 373, 380– 382Russell, R.W. (1970). “Psychology”: Noun or adjective?. American Psychologist, 25, 211– 218Rutter, M. Dunn, J. Plomin, R. Simonoff, E. Pickles, A. Maugham, B. Ormel, J. Meyer, J. Eaves, L. (1997). Integrating nature and nurture: Implications of person-environment correlations and interactions for developmental psychopathology.. Development and Psychopathology, 9, 335– 364Sanford, N. (1965). Will psychologists study human problems?. American Psychologist, 20, 192– 202Silbereisen, R.K. Kracke, B. (1997). Self-reported maturational timing and adaptation in adolescence.. In G. Schulenberg, J. Maggs, & K. Hurrelmann (Eds.), Health risks and developmental transitions during adolescence (pp. 85-109). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Stattin, H. Magnusson, D. (1990). Pubertal maturation in female development. . Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Stattin, H. Magnusson, D. (1996). Antisocial behavior—A holistic perspective.. Development and Psychopathology, 8, 617– 645Strelau, J. (1996). Regulative theory of temperament: Current status.. Personality and Individual Differences, 20, 131– 142Susman, E.J. (1993). Psychological, contextual, and psychobiological interactions: A developmental perspective on conduct disorder. Special Issue: Toward a developmental perspective on conduct disorder.. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 181– 189Thelen, E. Smith, L.B. (1998). Dynamic systems theory.. In W. Damon & R.M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology. Theoretical models of human development (Vol. 1., pp. 563-634). New York: Wiley.