This paper argues that feelings of agency are linked to human well-being through a sequence of adaptive mechanisms that promote human development, once existential conditions become permissive. In the first part, we elaborate on the evolutionary logic of this model and outline why an evolutionary perspective is helpful to understand changes in…

This article had four goals. First, the authors identified a set of general challenges and questions that a life-span theory of development should address. Second, they presented a comprehensive account of their Motivational Theory of Life-Span Development. They integrated the model of optimization in primary and secondary control and the…

Has the effectiveness of evaluation in interventive work been overlooked? The Practice Outcome Inventory is a treatment technique that involves the client directly in the evaluation process--with benefit to both client and practitioner. (Author)

The model presented here is an assessment model. Once individuals have assessed their decision-making process, they have the necessary data as a base on which to plan behavior change. Their next step is to plan a course of action and implement it. (Author)