Developmental psychologists focus on how people develop and grow throughout their lifetime. You will often hear the terms "lifespan" and "developmental" used interchangeably, but it boils down to "development across the lifespan."
Academically, developmental psychologists lecture and research how children, adolescents, and adults grow and evolve throughout their lives (Kuther, 2012). According to the APA (2014), this can include physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality, and emotional growth. Research topics are very diverse, including cases addressing how babies and children learn, what factors influence drug use, and why some people experience a midlife crisis.
Developmental psychologists that prefer not to work in education have many options. Sometimes referred to as applied developmental psychologists, these professionals may work directly with patients and clients (Kuther, 2012; American Psychological Association, 2014). This might be in a healthcare facility helping people with disabilities, an assisted living facility for the elderly, or a center for the homeless. Others might even work as consultants for toy companies or media producers (Kuther, 2019).
To become a developmental psychologist, you will need a doctoral degree. Specialized programs exist to prepare students for this track, especially in a postdoc capacity.
To learn more about developmental psychology, please visit the APA's Division 7 website HERE.
Academically, developmental psychologists lecture and research how children, adolescents, and adults grow and evolve throughout their lives (Kuther, 2012). According to the APA (2014), this can include physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality, and emotional growth. Research topics are very diverse, including cases addressing how babies and children learn, what factors influence drug use, and why some people experience a midlife crisis.
Developmental psychologists that prefer not to work in education have many options. Sometimes referred to as applied developmental psychologists, these professionals may work directly with patients and clients (Kuther, 2012; American Psychological Association, 2014). This might be in a healthcare facility helping people with disabilities, an assisted living facility for the elderly, or a center for the homeless. Others might even work as consultants for toy companies or media producers (Kuther, 2019).
To become a developmental psychologist, you will need a doctoral degree. Specialized programs exist to prepare students for this track, especially in a postdoc capacity.
To learn more about developmental psychology, please visit the APA's Division 7 website HERE.
References
American Psychological Association. (2014). Developmental psychology studies humans across the lifespan. https://www.apa.org/education-career/guide/subfields/developmental
Kuther, T. L. (2019). The psychology major's handbook. SAGE Publications.
