Individuality in a Developmental Context

Abstract

Work by Mumford and Owens in 1984 suggested that the differential developmental trajectories reflected in prototypical life history patterns first emerge with the crystallization of a cohesive pattern of choice behavior. The present study was carried out to provide more detailed information concerning the nature and timing of this crystallization process. Initially, background information was obtained describing the life history of 417 men and 358 women at four points in their lives between age 18 and 30. Subsequently, 15 male and 17 female composite prototypes reflecting patterns of differential development across three of these periods were obtained along with a series of factorial dimensions capable of summarizing differential behavior and experiences within each period. When the ability of these within-period dimensions to discriminate membership in the composite prototypes was examined, it was found that movement along a given trajectory could be determined by late adolescence. However, it was also found that certain kinds of prior experiences tended to postpone crystallization while certain later experiences led to changes in crystallized patterns. The implications of these observations for understanding individual development were then considered.