The DOI matches its Crossref record; 66 of the 66 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
On the incomplete architecture of human ontogeny: Selection, optimization, and compensation as foundation of developmental theory
Open accessAbstract
Drawing on both evolutionary and ontogenetic perspectives, the basic biological-genetic and social-cultural architecture of human development is outlined. Three principles are involved. First, evolutionary selection pressure predicts a negative age correlation, and therefore, genome-based plasticity and biological potential decrease with age. Second, for growth aspects of human development to extend further into the life span, culture-based resources are required at ever-increasing levels. Third, because of age-related losses in biological plasticity, the efficiency of culture is reduced as life span development unfolds. Joint application of these principles suggests that the life span architecture becomes more and more incomplete with age. Degree of completeness can be defined as the ratio between gains and losses in functioning. Two examples illustrate the implications of the life span architecture proposed. The first is a general theory of development involving the orchestration of 3 component processes: selection, optimization, and compensation. The second considers the task of completing the life course in the sense of achieving a positive balance between gains and losses for all age levels. This goal is increasingly more difficult to attain as human development is extended into advanced old age.
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In the citing paper
“Although gains still occur in older adulthood, the gain/loss dynamic shifts, such that this period is characterized by an increased proportion of losses, some of which are unchangeable.”
From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With Older Adults: Rationale and Considerations (2013) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
In the citing paper
“The SOC model posits that throughout life, individuals select goals toward which to devote resources and seek the optimal means to achieve the selected goal.”
From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With Older Adults: Rationale and Considerations (2013) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
In the citing paper
“Some aspects of cognitive function, particularly those heavily imbued with knowledge or experience (what Baltes, 1997, refers to as the pragmatics of cognition), will be relatively well preserved in adulthood, provided that the performance context does not introduce performance-specific constraints due to challenges to impaired processing mechanisms”
From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
In the citing paper
“Individuals select particular areas in which they invest time, energy, and cognitive resources to gain knowledge and experience”
From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
In the citing paper
“This example of behavior further supports SOC which posits that older adults require more time, practice and cognitive support to achieve learning gains.”
From Older Adults Perceptions of Technology and Barriers to Interacting with Tablet Computers: A Focus Group Study (2017) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
In the citing paper
“Overall, the current results are consistent with the Selection Optimization Compensation (SOC) Theory”
From Older Adults Perceptions of Technology and Barriers to Interacting with Tablet Computers: A Focus Group Study (2017) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
In the citing paper
“The observed age differences are in line with theoretical suggestions from lifespan theory that the impact of environmental influences may be less pronounced in later years of life (Baltes, 1997).”
From Associations between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation, plasma oxytocin, and attachment across adulthood (2019) · cites this paper as Baltes, 1997
Citations
Cites
Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress
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The Adapted mind : evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture
Barkow, J. H., Cosmides, L., & Tooby, J. (1992) · Cited by 5,222
Speaking. From Intention to Articulation
Caplan, D. N. (1990) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/0166-2236(90)90151-y · Cited by 4,036
Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990) · Successful Aging · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511665684.003 · Cited by 3,739
Self-citationA Dynamic Systems Approach to the Development of Cognition and Action
Thelen, E., & Smith, L. B. (1994) · doi:10.7551/mitpress/2524.001.0001 · Cited by 3,470
(1987) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,512
A life-span theory of control.
Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1995) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.102.2.284 · Cited by 1,844
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Hobfoll, S. E., Halbesleben, J., Neveu, J.-P., & Westman, M. (2018) · Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032117-104640 · Cited by 5,781
Social and Psychological Resources and Adaptation
Hobfoll, S. E. (2002) · Review of General Psychology · doi:10.1037/1089-2680.6.4.307 · Cited by 4,594
Roberts, B. W., Walton, K. E., & Viechtbauer, W. (2006) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.1.1 · Cited by 3,318
Socioemotional selectivity theory and the regulation of emotion in the second half of life
Carstensen, L. L., Fung, H. H., & Charles, S. T. (2003) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1023/a:1024569803230 · Cited by 1,978
Kwasnicka, D., Dombrowski, S. U., White, M., & Sniehotta, F. (2016) · Health Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/17437199.2016.1151372 · Cited by 1,476
Metadata
- Authors
- Baltes, P. B.
- Affiliations
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Baltes, Paul B.
- Venue
- American Psychologist
- Published
- 1997-04
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 366-380
- ISSN
- 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
- 1935-990X
- OpenAlex
- W1994817905
- Cited by
- 2,066
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 53 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 100 · 2020: 84 · 2019: 94 · 2018: 88 · 2017: 87 · 2016: 97 · 2015: 125 · 2014: 90 · 2013: 83 · 2012: 111
- FWCI
- 32.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Psychology of Development and Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Ego Development and Educational Practices
- Keywords
- human ontogeny, lifespan development, developmental theory, age-related decline, biological plasticity, cultural resources, age correlation, gain and loss, old age
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Child, Child, Preschool, Biological Evolution, Female, Humans, Human Development, Infant, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Selection, Genetic, Social Environment
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