Revisiting Persistence in Developmental Psychology: An Integrative Framework for Flexible Persistence

In developmental and educational psychology persistence is primarily conceptualized as sustained and independent effort exerted over a relatively short period on a single task. We propose a more unified and integrative framework in which persistence is understood as part of dynamic, flexible – and potentially adaptive – self-regulatory processes. These processes involve various temporary and intermediate strategies and decisions at any given time, aimed at long-term adaptive human functioning rather than immediate task or goal completion. We review the separate literatures that collectively support our notion of flexible persistence and further clarify our conceptual framework. Finally, we outline future directions for research.