Chapter 3: Mapping Trajectories of becoming a Psychologist

In this chapter, I investigate university students’ entry into the professional role in terms of the creation of identity by applying the Trajectory Equifinality Model (TEM; Sato & Tanimura, 2016; Sato, Yasuda, Kido, Arakawa, Mizoguchi, & Valsiner, 2007,). TEM is a useful tool that enables for the mapping of the dynamics involved in the construction of trajectories and for the depiction of the conditions that have the potential to lead to modifications of the paths of development. In this text, the process of becoming a professional is conceived emerging in time and being guided on various levels by personal culture and institutional suggestions. I will introduce Sato’s et al. (2007) theoretical framework for the TEM, and will do so by providing illustrative examples from a specific application of TEM, a longitudinal qualitative study conducted among psychology students (Kullasepp, 2008).