{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T10:05:23Z","timestamp":1789985123969,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,20]],"date-time":"2026-09-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789862400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behav. Sci.","Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Although philosophers and psychologists have pondered for centuries on what it means to pursue personal development and to live a good life, psychological research on personal growth remains broad and diverse. This Editorial introduces a Special Issue comprising 25 contributions to Experiences and Well-Being in Personal Growth. These diverse perspectives conceptualize growth as an aspect of eudaimonic well-being, an intentional process of self-change, a response to adversity, or a process facilitated by relationships and broader contexts. Growth may emerge through coping with adversity or through engagement with life opportunities, and its likelihood and consequences depend on individual characteristics, close relationships, and wider social and cultural environments. The Editorial synthesizes recent developments in the field, with special attention paid to the central role of interpersonal relationships, highlighting contributions from this Special Issue to the broader discussion surrounding personal growth. Future research directions are identified, including the need to prioritize greater conceptual and measurement precision, stronger longitudinal and causal evidence, closer attention to individual and contextual variation, and consideration of how the growing use of conversational AI for support and guidance may reshape how personal growth is pursued, experienced, and understood.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs16091692","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T09:01:38Z","timestamp":1789981298000},"page":"1692","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Many Pathways to Personal Growth: Contemporary Perspectives and Future Directions"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-8712-5897","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Madoka","family":"Kumashiro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Goldsmiths, University of London, London SE14 6NW, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25152459251360642","DOI":"10.1177\/25152459251360642","article-title":"A fragmented field: Construct and measure proliferation in psychology","volume":"8","author":"Anvari","year":"2025","journal-title":"Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Aron, A., and Aron, E. N. (1986). Love and the expansion of self: Understanding attraction and satisfaction, Hemisphere Publishing Corp.\/Harper & Row."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1177\/1088868317705257","article-title":"Revising working models across time: Relationship situations that enhance attachment security","volume":"22","author":"Arriaga","year":"2018","journal-title":"Personality and Social Psychology Review"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Clinical applications of attachment theory, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000368","article-title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of growth mindset interventions: For whom, how, and why might such interventions work?","volume":"149","author":"Burnette","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychological Bulletin"},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Collins English Dictionary (n.d.). Personal growth. Collins English dictionary, Collins. Available online: https:\/\/www.collinsdictionary.com\/dictionary\/english\/personal-growth."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327965PLI1104_01","article-title":"The \u201cwhat\u201d and \u201cwhy\u201d of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior","volume":"11","author":"Deci","year":"2000","journal-title":"Psychological Inquiry"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.77.2.293","article-title":"Close partner as sculptor of the ideal self: Behavioral affirmation and the Michelangelo phenomenon","volume":"77","author":"Drigotas","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success, Random House."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.95.2.256","article-title":"A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality","volume":"95","author":"Dweck","year":"1988","journal-title":"Psychological Review"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691618804166","article-title":"Mindsets: A view from two eras","volume":"14","author":"Dweck","year":"2019","journal-title":"Perspectives on Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1177\/1088868314544222","article-title":"A new look at social support: A theoretical perspective on thriving through relationships","volume":"19","author":"Feeney","year":"2015","journal-title":"Personality and Social Psychology Review"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"912","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9280.2009.02381.x","article-title":"Does self-reported posttraumatic growth reflect genuine positive change?","volume":"20","author":"Frazier","year":"2009","journal-title":"Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"1271","article-title":"Personalizing a positive psychology intervention improves well-being","volume":"15","author":"Heintzelman","year":"2023","journal-title":"Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1177\/0963721419827017","article-title":"Fixing the growth illusion: New directions for research in resilience and posttraumatic growth","volume":"28","author":"Infurna","year":"2019","journal-title":"Current Directions in Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1037\/dev0001303","article-title":"The destabilization and destandardization of social roles across the adult life course: Considering aggregate social role instability and its variability from a historical-developmental perspective","volume":"58","author":"Jager","year":"2022","journal-title":"Developmental Psychology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1177\/09637214241242451","article-title":"A multidisciplinary perspective on person\u2013environment fit: Relevance, measurement, and future directions","volume":"33","author":"Kandler","year":"2024","journal-title":"Current Directions in Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1080\/10463283.2023.2241937","article-title":"Singlehood as an identity","volume":"35","author":"Kislev","year":"2024","journal-title":"European Review of Social Psychology"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1177\/0265407507079261","article-title":"To think or to do: Assessment orientation, locomotion orientation, and the Michelangelo phenomenon","volume":"24","author":"Kumashiro","year":"2007","journal-title":"Journal of Social and Personal Relationships"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1111\/pere.12025","article-title":"\u201cYou make me a better\/worse person\u201d: A two-dimensional model of relationship self-change","volume":"21","author":"Mattingly","year":"2014","journal-title":"Personal Relationships"},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Mikulincer, M., and Shaver, P. R. (2016). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change, Guilford Press. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-psych-030413-152156","article-title":"Socioecological psychology","volume":"65","author":"Oishi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Annual Review of Psychology"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1037\/a0027310","article-title":"Development and psychometric evaluation of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale\u2013II","volume":"59","author":"Robitschek","year":"2012","journal-title":"Journal of Counseling Psychology"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8721.2009.01657.x","article-title":"The Michelangelo phenomenon","volume":"18","author":"Rusbult","year":"2009","journal-title":"Current Directions in Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.psych.52.1.141","article-title":"On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being","volume":"52","author":"Ryan","year":"2001","journal-title":"Annual Review of Psychology"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Kleiber, D., and Maehr, M. (1985). Adult personality development and the motivation for personal growth. Advances in motivation and achievement: Vol. 4. Motivation and adulthood, JAI Press."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1069","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.57.6.1069","article-title":"Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being","volume":"57","author":"Ryff","year":"1989","journal-title":"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-psych-032420-032236","article-title":"Self-continuity","volume":"74","author":"Sedikides","year":"2023","journal-title":"Annual Review of Psychology"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1081","DOI":"10.1177\/17456916251351306","article-title":"Can generative AI chatbots emulate human connection? A relationship science perspective","volume":"20","author":"Smith","year":"2025","journal-title":"Perspectives on Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1002\/jts.2490090305","article-title":"The posttraumatic growth inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma","volume":"9","author":"Tedeschi","year":"1996","journal-title":"Journal of Traumatic Stress"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327965pli1501_01","article-title":"Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence","volume":"15","author":"Tedeschi","year":"2004","journal-title":"Psychological Inquiry"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101181","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chbr.2026.101181","article-title":"Relationships in the age of AI: A review on the opportunities and risks of synthetic relationships to reduce loneliness","volume":"23","author":"Ventura","year":"2026","journal-title":"Computers in Human Behavior Reports"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-soc-060116-053442","article-title":"The second demographic transition theory: A review and appraisal","volume":"43","author":"Zaidi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Annual Review of Sociology"}],"container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-328X\/16\/9\/1692\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T09:38:14Z","timestamp":1789983494000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-328X\/16\/9\/1692"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,20]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["bs16091692"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/bs16091692","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-328X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-328X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,20]]}}}