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A Dynamic Systems Approach to Personality

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European Psychologist
Authors:
Lawrence A. Pervin
Lawrence A. Pervin
Lawrence A. Pervin
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Abstract

David Magnusson has been the most articulate spokesperson for a holistic, systems approach to personality. This paper considers three concepts relevant to a dynamic systems approach to personality: dynamics, systems, and levels. Some of the history of a dynamic view is traced, leading to an emphasis on the need for stressing the interplay among goals. Concepts such as multidetermination, equipotentiality, and equifinality are shown to be important aspects of a systems approach. Finally, attention is drawn to the question of levels of description, analysis, and explanation in a theory of personality. The importance of the issue is emphasized in relation to recent advances in our understanding of biological processes. Integrating such advances into a theory of personality while avoiding the danger of reductionism is a challenge for the future.
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Lawrence A.Pervin ADynamicSystems Approach to Personality
A Dynamic Systems Approach
to Personality
Lawrence A. Pervin
Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
David Magnusson has been the most articulate spokesperson for a holis-
tic, systems approach to personality. This paper considers three concepts
relevant to a dynamic systems approach to personality: dynamics, sys-
tems, and levels. Some of the history of a dynamic view is traced, leading
to an emphasis on the need for stressing the interplay among goals. Con-
cepts such as multidetermination, equipotentiality, and equifinality are
shown to be important aspects of a systems approach. Finally, attention
is drawn to the question of levels of description, analysis, and explanation
in a theory of personality. The importance of the issue is emphasized in
relation to recent advances in our understanding of biological processes.
Integrating such advances into a theory of personality while avoiding the
danger of reductionism is a challenge for the future.
Keywords: Personality, dynamics, systems, levels, reductionism.
I consider three concepts relevant to a dynamic systems
approach to personality: dynamics, systems, and levels.
First, however, in order to place the discussion in con-
text, let me quote from my epilog chapter in the second
edition of The Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research
(Pervin & John, 1999). In this chapter I consider ten is-
sues that remain fundamental to the field. In considering
the third, Parts versus Wholes (Systems), I expressed the
following view:
“Magnusson is the most articulate spokesperson for a
holistic, systems approach to personality, spelling out
in detail its theoretical and methodological implica-
tions. What is most significant about a systems ap-
proach is that it emphasizes the dynamic interconnec-
tions among parts and the multidetermination of com-
plex behavior . . . Such systems principles would
appear to be necessary to appreciate the complexity of
human personality functioning” (Pervin, 1999, p. 693).
I return to this point at the conclusion of my presenta-
tion, but first let me consider the concepts of dynamics,
systems, and levels as they relate to personality func-
tioning.
Dynamics and Systems
In 1994 I published a critical analysis of current trait the-
ory, focusing in particular on the limitations of a such a
static model of personality (Pervin, 1994). Prior to pub-
lication of the paper I sent it to a leading trait psycholo-
gist for review. This person rejected the paper as being
of little merit, suggesting that terms such as “dynamic”
and “system” are meaningless, associated with the old
view of clinical prediction, which had been demonstrat-
ed to be inferior to statistical prediction. According to
this person, such terms were better dropped from the
field completely. Interestingly enough, since then a pre-
sentation of the five-factor theory of personality by
European
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Lawrence A. Pervin is a professor at the Department of Psychology,
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. Together with Oliver P.
John he is editor of the Handbook of Personality: Theory and Re-
search. Together they also wrote the volume Personality: Theory and
Research, and he authored Current Controversies and Issues in Per-
sonality. Pervin has made many important contributions to the field
of personality through his critical synthesis of current theories and
research practices and his thought-provoking theoretical work con-
cerning a dynamic personality psychology.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Pro-
fessor Lawrence A. Pervin, Department of Psychology, Livingston
Campus, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA (tel. +1 732
445-2376, fax +1 732 445-0036, e-mail pervin@rci.rutgers.edu).
European Psychologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, September 2001, pp. 172–176
© 2001 Hogrefe & Huber Publishers
172
... The key ideas from dynamical systems theory have already proven useful for interpreting empirical findings and for conceptualizing how personality relates to both traits and psychological processes (see Caprara & Cervone, 2000;Mischel & Shoda, 1995;Pervin, 2001;Read et al., 2010;Vallacher, Read, et al., 2002). Thus, the next advancement in personality psychology may be empirical. ...
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... Of course, these similarities may be random results of parallel developments of thought in science and conceptual knowledge of some cultures. The parallel emergence of two similar conceptual meanings may be explained by the principle of equifinality (Pervin, 2001). This principle, coming from dynamic systems theory, suggests that the same endpoint can be reached through different routes. ...
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