ABSTRACT
Humans are adaptive organisms with respect to the usual range of environments because they can reach their goals by many diverse routes. This flexibility complicates the life of the behavioral scientist intent on predicting behavior, given the difficulty in predicting the choice of method. However, this same flexibility is the reason for the success of the species on this planet. Yet there are limits to adaptability, given the physical and mental makeup of Homo sapiens. As people age, these limits become more evident. Lawton (1977) was one of the first to portray, in schematic form, the delicate balance between environmental demands (“press”) and human capabilities, outlining the need for person–environment congruency.
