There is a growing acceptance of a holistic, interactionistic view in which the individual is seen as an organized whole, functioning and developing as a totality. This view emphasizes the importance of patterns of operating factors. Within this framework, a standard variable-oriented approach, focusing on the variable as the main theoretical and analytical unit, has limitations. A person-oriented approach would often be preferable, where the main theoretical and analytical unit is the specific pattern of operating factors. Such an approach is presented here, focusing on individual development and psychopathology. A brief theoretical and methodological overview is given and a classification approach is emphasized. Empirical examples concerning the longitudinal study of adjustment problems illustrate a number of issues believed to be important to development and psychopathology: problem gravitation, the significance of single variables and of patterns, the developmental study of syndromes (=typical patterns), and the detection of "white spots" in development.
Introductiontello ( 1996); Cicchetti and Schneider-Rosen (1986); Ford and Lerner (1992); Magnusson There is a growing acceptance of a holistic, and Allen (1983); Magnusson (1993); and interactionistic view in which the individual is Magnusson and Stattin (in press). seen as an organized whole, functioning andThe holistic-dynamic system view is reledeveloping as a totality. The totality is formed vant in all studies of individual development, by interactions among the elements involved; regardless of the level at which the system is each aspect of the various structures and operating. It applies to the cellular level, the processes (behavior, plans, values, goals, bio-cognitive system, the behavior system, and so logical factors, environment, etc.) takes on on. It also expands the boundaries of the indimeaning from the role it plays in the total vidual and includes the environment as well functioning of the individual. The research as interacting individuals. In studies of indiparadigm that most naturally relates to this vidual development, a holistic view should holistic view of individual development per-constitute the theoretical frame of reference ceives development in terms of complex dy-for the formulation of the specific problem, namic systems, as is done in an interaction-the choice of research strategy and methodolistic paradigm. For overviews in this area the ogy, and the interpretation of results. Of reader is referred to Cairns, Elder, and Cos-course, this does not mean that all aspects of
