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What is Developmental Psychology?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Developmental psychology is a subfield within psychology that focuses on the study of age-based behavioral changes. Historically, the term has been used specifically to refer to the behavioral development of children, but developmental psychologists actually study people of all ages, looking at behavior from before birth until death. Researchers can apply their skills to the treatment of children with psychological disorders, the analysis of psychological issues that pertain to criminal cases, education, elder care, and a number of other situations.

People who study developmental psychology primarily gather evidence through observation, with each study adding to the overall body of material. Experimentation under controlled circumstances may be used by some researchers, but most focus on watching humans in natural environments and learning about the ways in which development can be influenced or altered. Since many experiments involving the manipulation of environment could involve unethical methods, such as subjecting children to sensory deprivation or malnourishing infants to determine the role of diet in infant development, observation is often the only way to gather data.

Developmental psychologists study the behavioral development of people of all ages, from the very young to the old.
Developmental psychologists study the behavioral development of people of all ages, from the very young to the old.

Developmental psychologists are interested in the emotional, intellectual, and moral development of people throughout their lifespan, looking at everything from the age infants first respond to specific stimuli to the behavioral changes which occur in the elderly. This field is also concerned with physical and social development, such as the age at which boys and girls start differentiating between each other, or the dynamics of middle aged adults. Psychologists also study humans in the womb, especially in the later phases of pregnancy when the fetus appears to be engaging in conscious actions.

A developmental psychologist may study whether or not a child is developing normally, physically and mentally.
A developmental psychologist may study whether or not a child is developing normally, physically and mentally.

The study of developmental psychology is critical to understanding how humans mature, and to identifying issues with maturation. Developmental psychologists can set basic milestones that can be used to determine whether or not a child is developing normally, for example. Lagging behind normal development or failing to meet development targets by a specific age can be an early sign that a child is experiencing problems which need to be addressed.

Developmental psychologists may conduct studies on at what age girls and boys begin differentiating between each other.
Developmental psychologists may conduct studies on at what age girls and boys begin differentiating between each other.

Research in this field can also be used to explore the developmental differences between different populations, and the reasons why some groups seem to develop more quickly than others. This research can be valuable when people are deciding how to allocate funding and which social and educational issues need the most attention, as this type of psychology has illustrated that people need sound developmental building blocks to grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

sneakers41

Developmental psychology theorist looks at various stages in a person’s life in order to find a common link in behavior.

Often the study of one’s life span and the attitudes toward aging are a significant portion of the developmental psychology research.

In a recent study it was revealed that older people were actually happier than younger people because they were more carefree about their lives and did not worry about the judgment that they worried about when they were younger.

This is really contrary to what most people believe that it is the younger more youthful people that are happiest because they have so much yet to experience in life.

The reality is that with age also comes a certain degree of confidence that few young people experience. Older people have, “Been there and done that”.

SauteePan

Cognitive developmental psychology focuses on the processing of memory and language of an individual.

Developmental child psychology focuses on the various stages of a child’s life and the corresponding changes with respect to cognitive development and language processing.

Often a pediatrician offers a parental interview during the child’s wellness checkup that will review the basic milestones that should have been reached at a certain stage in the child’s life.

For example, if a parent brings in a child that is two years old and the doctor asks the mother or father if the child has uttered any words, and if the parent says they have not then this would lead the doctor to believe that the child might be suffering from developmental speech delays that might mean that the child is autistic.

The doctor is using developmental psychology research in order to compare children of the same age.

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    • Developmental psychologists study the behavioral development of people of all ages, from the very young to the old.
      By: Sergey Khamidulin
      Developmental psychologists study the behavioral development of people of all ages, from the very young to the old.
    • A developmental psychologist may study whether or not a child is developing normally, physically and mentally.
      By: alexsokolov
      A developmental psychologist may study whether or not a child is developing normally, physically and mentally.
    • Developmental psychologists may conduct studies on at what age girls and boys begin differentiating between each other.
      By: Oksana Kuzmina
      Developmental psychologists may conduct studies on at what age girls and boys begin differentiating between each other.
    • The age at which infants first respond to specific stimuli may be studied by developmental psychologists.
      By: Svetlana Fedoseeva
      The age at which infants first respond to specific stimuli may be studied by developmental psychologists.