Developmental regulation of life-course transitions: a control theory approach

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511489761.011

10 - Developmental regulation of life-course transitions: a control theory approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009

Jutta Heckhausen

Edited by

Lea Pulkkinen and

Avshalom Caspi

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Lea Pulkkinen: Affiliation:
University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Avshalom Caspi: Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London

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Summary

A control theory approach

In this chapter a control-theoretical approach to developmental regulation in adulthood is proposed (Heckhausen, 1999). The first section addresses the fundamental challenges posed for the individual's developmental regulation across the life-span, as they result from the general shift in the developmental ecology towards greater risks for decline and fewer chances for growth at increasing age levels during adulthood. In this section, I also discuss a repertoire of control strategies based on the life-span theory of control (Heckhausen and Schulz, 1995; Schulz and Heckhausen, 1996) and their orchestration by the individual's attempts to optimize development in terms of maximizing age appropriateness, manage inter-domain trade-offs, and maintain diversity. After this wide-angle view of life-span development and its regulation, the chapter's perspective zooms to the pursuit of major developmental goals. For each developmental goal there is an age-based trajectory of opportunities and constraints, which reflects first increasing, then peaking, and finally decreasing potential to realize the respective developmental goal (Heckhausen, 2000a). Based on this analysis, an action-theoretical model of developmental regulation around developmental deadlines is introduced. Exemplar empirical evidence for age-graded action cycles of engagement and disengagement with developmental goals in the domain of childbearing and of partnership is discussed.

Fundamental challenges for developmental regulation

The life-span theory of control, developed by Heckhausen and Schulz (1995; Schulz and Heckhausen, 1996) focuses on the individual as the agent in development (see also Lerner and Busch-Rossnagel, 1981; Brandtstädter, 1998).

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Paths to Successful Development
Personality in the Life Course
, pp. 257 - 280

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511489761.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2002

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