Comments with a focus on Pervin's paper

Pervin's paper on the person-situation controversy is commended for offering an interesting review of the common roots of various current conceptualizations of person-environment relations. Moreover, the author agrees with Pervin's observation that what is needed is a dynamic, process-oriented model. Pervin's own conceptualization of the person as a goal-oriented organism, who responds to multiple situational demands, is criticized as (1) too person centered; (2) not giving adequate attention to the embeddedness of person-environment relations within various environmental systems; and (3) not explicitly articulating or citing others' conceptions of the specific mechanism(s) by which dynamic interaction between person and environment takes place.