ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines D. Ford’s conceptual framework for representing individuals as self-constructing living systems. It deals with a list of the basic characteristics of humans that an adequate conceptual framework should encompass. The chapter discusses the additional characteristics needed to transform it into a model of a self-constructing living system. It suggests that framework is translated into terms representing the structural-functional organization of humans, and each component of the framework is briefly considered in those terms. The chapter explores a consideration of some of the implications of the living systems framework for understanding human personality. The material and energy-based self-organizing and self-constructing functions correspond to biological processes in humans. The information-based self-organizing and self-constructing functions correspond to information-processing, learning, and action-formation and -execution functions in humans. Information-based self-construction is manifest in elaboration of one’s behavioral repertoire and increases in skill levels.
