Why Do Different Individuals Progress Along Different Life Trajectories?

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The core marker of progress in psychological science is the degree to which our work enhances the welfare of people. In order to effectively enhance human welfare, we must develop comprehensive models that explain why different individuals progress along different life trajectories. Exciting theoretical accounts that describe transitional processes from gene polymorphisms through moment-to-moment behavior are beginning to emerge. These early accounts highlight opportunities to investigate specific transitional steps along that long pathway, the need to understand the universal and the contextual aspects of psychological processes, and the need to define and measure psychological constructs with more precision and clarity. It is likely that creative new research in each of these areas will bring enormous progress over the coming decade.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)415-421
Number of pages7
JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Portions of this work were supported by NIAAA Grant RO1 AA016166 to Gregory T. Smith.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychology (all)

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