CONSTANCY OR CHANGE OF PERSONALITY IN OLD -AGE - DATA AND DISCUSSION OF A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE

Research on personality development in the second half of life is revi ewed, making a distinction between studies following a trait-oriented and studies using a process-oriented approach. A methodological and th eoretical discussion of results not only explains differences in resul ts, it also allows to conclude that the two approaches describe and ex plain complementary facets of the field. A synthesis between approache s is proposed in order to understand part of the controversy on consta ncy and change of personality development.