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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development pp 982Cite as

Multifinality

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Synonyms

Developmental outcomes; Developmental pathways; Developmental trajectories

Definition

The concept that people can experience the same life events or have similar histories yet their developmental outcomes can vary widely.

Description

Multifinality literally means “many ends.” This refers to people having similar histories (e.g., child sexual abuse, death of a parent, or a secure attachment history) yet their developmental outcomes can vary widely. For example, two children who were sexually abused could have very different outcomes despite extremely similar early experiences. One child might be well-adjusted yet another child might develop clinical depression. This concept is important because it encourages clinicians and researchers to examine entire developmental histories instead of only looking at symptom profiles. The field of developmental psychopathology (DP) brought this idea to light in its conceptualization of mental health and illness in children [1]. Researchers...

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References

  1. Sroufe, L. A. (1997). Psychopathology as an outcome of development. Development and Psychopathology, 9(2), 251–268.

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  2. Beauchaine, T. P. (2003). Taxometrics and developmental psychopathology. Special Issue: Conceptual, methodological, and statistical issues in developmental psychopathology: A special issue in honor of Paul E. Meehl. Development and Psychopathology, 15(3), 501–527.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Humboldt State University, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA

    Tasha R. Howe

Authors
  1. Tasha R. Howe
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Howe, T.R. (2011). Multifinality. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1864

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1864

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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