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LONGITUDINAL STUDIES AND SELF-ORGANIZING PROCESSES
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Longitudinal Studies |
The value of longitudinal studies, especially in psychotherapy,
has been greatly underestimated in recent times. In
developmental psychology, on the other hand, the integration of
neurobiology and the recognition of dynamic self-organizations
lead to a change of perspective and gave new momentum to
longitudinal studies. Previous models that predicted a static
and linear growth curve were replaced by a
dynamic and
interactional growth model. In order to evaluate the growth
conditions of developmental variations, therefore, research must
be longitudinal and integrate constantly emerging new concepts.
Similar principles apply to psychotherapy:
Conditions that block
personality development need to be understood prior to the onset
of beneficial developments and their specific qualities
investigated during the course of therapy.
Longitudinal studies are uniquely suited to help identify
developmental variations of two seemingly identical clinically
manifested disorders. Even if children show similar symptoms at
a particular point in time, they may indeed follow different
developmental trajectories which
may not be considered deviant
behaviors and emotions in terms of the traditional principal
diagnostic concepts.
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Understanding self-organizing processes |
Applying a dynamic framework to development has illustrated
that child development can be understood as a
process of qualitative
new organizations guided by spontaneous
self-organizations. For example, Petermann, Niebank &
Scheithauer ("Risiken in der frühkindlichen Entwicklung", 2000,
p. 18) view "development as a
spontaneous occurrence
of higher order functions following repeated interactions
between lower order functions." New organizations evolve as
transitions during trying times to challenge existing patterns
and to form new und unforeseen patterns.
In order to provide effective psychotherapy to children and
adolescents experiencing long-term developmental challenges (e.g.,
physical limitations or birth defects), static models and purely
descriptive psychopathology must be replaced by a
dynamic and longitudinal
model. This approach allows for the analysis deriving
from the typical (average) or afflicted development as well as
the analysis of their
interaction.
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