In this paper, we present a general and flexible framework for constructively defining growth components to model complex change processes. Building on the concepts of the latent state-trait theory (LST theory; Steyer, Ferring, & Schmitt, 1992), we develop structural equation models containing latent variables that represent latent growth (change) components of interest. We formulate these models based on an approach presented by Mayer, Steyer & Mueller (in press). We discuss an application to the …