Describing, Explaining, and Optimizing Within-Individual Change Across the Life Span: A Relational Developmental Systems Perspective

The goal of developmental science is to describe, explain, and optimize changes within individuals and differences between individuals across the life span. Contemporary developmental science is framed in the main by relational developmental systems models, conceptions that emphasize that change across life occurs through mutually regulative relations between individuals and their contexts. These models have important implications for research questions, methodology, and applications aimed at promoting positive human development and social justice across the life span.