Psychology, Psychotherapy and Mental Wellness

Developmental & Counseling Psychology

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Developmental psychology is the scientific study of how and why human beings develop over the course of their life. Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to include adolescence, adult development, aging, and the entire lifespan. Developmental psychology helps us understand how a person grows, ages, and develops during different stages in his life. Understanding this allows us to live our lives to the fullest potential possible.

Charles Darwin is credited with conducting the first systematic study of Developmental psychology.

Developmental psychologists study a wide range of theoretical areas, such as biological, social, emotion, and cognitive processes. A developmental psychologist will usually specialize in certain ages and stages during people's lives. The duties and responsibilities of a developmental psychologist will often vary, depending on his specialty. A professional specializing in childhood development, for example, may evaluate children to determine whether or not they have developmental disabilities. On the other hand, a developmental psychologist specializing in older adults may try to find ways that make it easier for elderly people to live more independently. Empirical research in this area tends to be dominated by psychologists from Western cultures such as North American and Europe, although during the 1980s Japanese researchers began making a valid contribution to the field.

Applied psychology is the field that uses psychological principles to improve the lives of human beings and solve human problems. Psychometrics, or the measurement and evaluation of psychological variables such as personality, aptitude, or performance, are an integral part of applied psychology fields.