[2] The term "relational developmental systems paradigm" has been used to refer to the combination of the RDS metatheory and the relationist worldview.
[4] RDS theorists reject the dichotomies associated with Cartesian dualism, such as those between nature and nurture, and between basic and applied science.
[3] RDS can also be considered as an extension to developmental systems theory, which suggests that factors such as genes and the environment interact to influence development.
[6] Relational Developmental Systems proposes that human development cannot be understood without understanding the multiple relationships between individuals and their biological, psychological, social and historical contexts.
[9][8] It investigated factors influencing adolescents' development of five key traits: confidence, caring, connection, character and ability to perform a task.
[8][9] Adolescents were able to optimise their development by adjusting their personal goals and expectations based on the social situation and the environmental resources that they had access to.
[2][10] RDS suggests that due to our ability to constantly change, adolescents have the potential to develop co-operative and considerate behaviours.
Research from the 'European Review of Ageing and Physical Activity' indicated that a combination of individual-related and context-related factors can influence sports participation in the elderly.
[3] When considering the broader fields of psychology and behavioural science, RDS parallels new approaches taken to evolution and to the mind-body problem.
[11][12] Findings from the International Journal of Epidemiology links this research to RDS, suggesting that our ability to change over time involves interaction between genes and the environment.
[2] It can provide a foundation for recent discoveries in the fields of genetics, evolution and cultural psychology, that are based on interactions between elements.