Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Personality Psychology01:29

Introduction to Personality Psychology

Personality encompasses a set of enduring traits and behavioral patterns that define how individuals think, feel, and interact, ultimately shaping their unique identities. The concept of personality has deep historical roots, deriving from the Latin term "persona," which means "mask." This term initially referred to the roles played by actors in ancient theater, signifying the different facets individuals display in various contexts.
Early Theories of Personality
The study of personality dates...
Three Developmental Domains01:29

Three Developmental Domains

Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality01:30

Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality

Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood01:28

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood

Erik Erikson, a stage theorist, adapted Freud's theory to emphasize social factors in personality development throughout life, a concept known as psychosocial development. Unlike Freud, who focused on early childhood, Erikson believed that personality evolves across eight life stages, each marked by a specific challenge or "crisis." Successful resolution of each stage fosters competence, while failure may lead to feelings of inadequacy.
The first four of Erikson's eight psychosocial stages...
Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality01:27

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Narrating the Dark Night of the Soul: The Psychosocial Study of Low Point Stories.

Journal of personality·2026
Same author

Historical Consciousness: Recollections of Major Historical Events in the Personal Life Story.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2025
Same author

Narrative Self-Transcendence: Decreased Regret and Increased Acceptance Over Late Midlife.

Journal of personality·2025
Same author

Interpersonal synchronization: An overlooked factor in development, social cognition, and psychopathology.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2025
Same author

Leveraging community psychology to counter harmful policies and foster well-being in migrant children.

American journal of community psychology·2025
Same author

Mental illness and personal recovery: A narrative identity framework.

Clinical psychology review·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Personality development: continuity and change over the life course.

Dan P McAdams1, Bradley D Olson

  • 1Department of Psychology, and School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. dmca@northwestern.edu

Annual Review of Psychology
|June 19, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Personality development unfolds across the lifespan through three key roles: actor, agent, and author. This review examines the development of traits, goals, and narrative identity from infancy to old age.

More Related Videos

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
09:01

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
09:01

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Personality Psychology

Background:

  • Personality development is a complex process observed across the human lifespan.
  • Three distinct perspectives—actor, agent, and author—offer insights into personality formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the developmental trajectories of personality traits, personal strivings, and narrative identity.
  • To examine the interplay of these components at key developmental milestones.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing research on personality development.
  • Focus on three standpoints: actor (behavioral traits), agent (goals/motivations), and author (narrative identity).

Main Results:

  • Dispositional traits develop from early temperament and social action patterns.
  • Agentic self and stable goals emerge in childhood, influencing personality.
  • Narrative identity forms in adolescence/young adulthood, providing life meaning.

Conclusions:

  • Personality development is a continuous process integrating traits, goals, and life stories.
  • Understanding these components across the lifespan is crucial for developmental psychology.