[Personality, achievement and health in social change]

All countries with modern industrial societies are undergoing epochal changes. These processes include globalization, internationalization and structural alterations in the work environment which have social and psychophysical consequences for the individual. These problems are rarely discussed concerning their pathogenic or health-supporting effects. Transformations of society primarily change the relationship between the demands, expectations and requirements placed on the individual and his or her abilities and competencies necessary to find solutions. This challenge simulataneously offers chances and risks for an individual's personality development, namely new demands on an individual's regulation of potential and achievement. Not only is competence in the workplace required, but social skills, emotional and self-reflective qualities are vital as well. Developing these abilities requires two tasks. One promotes and develops such skills in the individual. The second would promote sound political decisions enabling the skills in the individual to be actualized.