A model of the process through which individuals adapt to their environment across
the life span is presented. The model illustrates how contextual and individual
characteristics affect an individual's performance on an activity through their
effects on how the individual defines the activity. Empirical support for the model
is presented based on results from a life span study of everyday experiences and
problems, and from a number of laboratory-based studies. The model and research
emanating from the model suggests that what may appear to be developmental and
individual differences in components of the problem-solving process may be explained
by individual differences in activity definitions.
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