Equifinality and multifinality in developmental psychopathology

Since its inception as an emergent interdisci-epigenesis, may lead to the same outcome, plinary science, diversity in process and out-Stated differently, in an open system (i.e., one come have been conceived as among the hall-where there is maintenance in change, dymarks of the developmental psychopathology namic order of processes, organization, selfperspective This Sroufe, 1986, 1989; In contrast, in a closed system the end individuals, and that there are myriad path-state is inextricably linked to and determined ways to any particular manifestation of adap-by the initial conditions: if either the conditive or disordered behavior Additionally, it is Initial descriptions of equifinality emabelieved that there is heterogeneity among in-nated from work in embryology. For example, dividuals who develop a specific disorder the development of a normal organism was with respect to the features of their disturb-shown to occur from a whole ovum, a divided ance, as well as among individuals who evi-ovum, or two fused ova. Further, it was demdence maladaptation but who do not develop onstrated that different initial sizes and differa disorder. In accord with this view, the prin-ent courses of growth can eventuate in the ciples of equifinality and multifinality derived same ultimate size of an organism (von Bertafrom general systems theory (von Bertalanffy, lanffy, 1968; Within the 1968) are germane.