Theoretical propositions of life-span developmental psychology: On the dynamics between growth and decline.
Abstract
Life-span developmental psychology involves the study of constancy and change in behavior throughout the life course. One aspect of life-span research has been the advancement of a more general, metatheoretical view on the nature of development. The family of theoretical perspectives associated with this metatheoretical view of life-span developmental psychology includes the recog-nition of multidirectionality in ontogenetic change, consideration of both age-connected and discon-nected developmental factors, a focus on the dynamic and continuous interplay between growth (gain) and decline (loss), emphasis on historical embeddedness and other structural contextual fac-tors, and the study of the range of plasticity in development. Application of the family of perspectives associated with life-span developmental psychology is illustrated for the domain of intellectual devel-opment. Two recently emerging perspectives of the family of beliefs are given particular attention. The first proposition is methodological and suggests that plasticity can best be studied with a research strategy called testing-the-limits. The second proposition is theoretical and proffers that any develop-mental change includes the joint occurrence of gain (growth) and loss (decline) in adaptive capacity. To assess the pattern of positive (gains) and negative (losses) consequences resulting from develop-ment, it is necessary to know the criterion demands posed by the individual and the environment
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“This perspective recognizes that there are both gains and losses in cognitive function across adulthood but that, with advancing age, gains become less common and losses predominate.”
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“In line with lifespan and personality developmental theories, research has generally suggested that life events can trigger self-esteem change.”
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In re-analysis of WAIS-III and WMS-III normative data, the previously-reported pattern of earlier peaks for fluid intelligence than crystallized intelligence was observed.
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- Authors
- Baltes, P. B.
- Corresponding author
- Baltes, Paul B.
- Venue
- Developmental Psychology
- Published
- 1987-09
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 611-626
- ISSN
- 0012-1649 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-0599
- OpenAlex
- W2167315939
- Cited by
- 2,781
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 81 · 2025: 125 · 2024: 84 · 2023: 105 · 2022: 120 · 2021: 159 · 2020: 114 · 2019: 133 · 2018: 103 · 2017: 121 · 2016: 99 · 2015: 134 · 2014: 111 · 2013: 102 · 2012: 93
- FWCI
- 25.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Developmental Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Psychology of Development and Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Ego Development and Educational Practices
- Keywords
- life-span developmental psychology, gain and loss, developmental plasticity, intellectual development, adaptive capacity
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