Developmental Science and the Holistic Approach

This book is the outcome of a symposium where leading researchers, mainly in developmental psychology, came together to discuss the implications of the emerging developmental science and the holistic approach. In doing this, the authors wanted to honor a distinguished colleague, David Magnusson, and his career-long contributions to this field. The purpose of the book is to discuss the profound implications for developmental science of the holistic paradigm, especially with regard to the individual development within psychology. Against the background of their own empirical, theoretical, or methodological research, the authors have tried to identify what is needed for the developmental theory and methods within this paradigm and discuss possibilities and limitations in relation to conventional approaches.

Contents: Preface. Part I: Introduction. L.R. Bergman, R.B. Cairns, L.G. Nilsson, L. Nystedt, Introduction. P.B. Baltes, David Magnusson: The Footprints of Wisdom. Part II: Theoretical Considerations. D. Magnusson, The Individual as the Organizing Principle in Psychological Inquiry: A Holistic Approach. R.B. Cairns, Developmental Science: Three Audacious Implications. J.A.S. Kelso, Principles of Dynamic Pattern Formation and Change for a Science of Human Behavior. Part III: Methodological Considerations. J. Kagan, The Modern Synthesis in Psychological Development. R.A. Hinde, Dialectics in Development and Everyday Life. J.R. Nesselroade, P. Ghisletta, Beyond Static Concepts in Modeling Behavior. L.R. Bergman, The Application of a Person-Oriented Approach: Types and Clusters. J. Block, Three Tasks for Personality Psychology. M. Radke-Yarrow, Real and Statistical Parents and Children: The Varied Discoveries of Research. Part IV: A Biological Perspective. G. Gottlieb, Understanding Genetic Activity Within a Holistic Framework. S.A. Mednick, M.O. Huttunen, Lessons From the Wings of Drosophilia. B. Klinteberg, Psychobiological Patterns at Adult Age: Relationships to Personality and Early Behavior. M. Carlson, F. Earls, Social Ecology and the Development of Stress Regulation. Part V: Personality. L.A. Pervin, The Four Cs of Personality: Context, Consistency, Conflict, and Coherence. L. Pulkkinen, K. Männikkö, J.E. Nurmi, Self-Description and Personality Styles. J.B. Asendorpf, A Person-Centered Approach to Personality and Social Relationships: Findings From the Berlin Relationship Study. S.B. Gustafson, Personality and Organizational Destructiveness: Fact, Fiction, and Fable. Part VI: Developmental Paths of Adjustment. S. Hodgins, Studying the Etiology of Crime and Violence Among Persons With Major Mental Disorders: Challenges in the Definition and the Measurement of Interactions. P.A. Rydelius, Swedish Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and a Holistic Approach to the Study of Child Development. H. Stattin, K. Trost, When Do Preschool Conduct Problems Link to Future Social Adjustment Problems and When Do They Not? T. Andersson, Developmental Patterns and the Dynamics of Alcohol Problems in Adolescence and Young Adulthood. H. Zhao, J. Brooks-Gunn, S. McLanahan, B. Singer, Studying the Real Child Rather Than the Ideal Child: Bringing the Person Into Developmental Studies. R.M. Lerner, N.L. Simi, A Holistic, Integrated Model of Risk and Protection in Adolescence: A Developmental Contextual Perspective About Research, Programs, and Policies. Part VII: Summing Up. L.R. Bergman, R.B. Cairns, Epilogue and Prospects.