Developmental psychology is the scientific study of how people grow and change over the course of their lives. Developmental psychologists study a wide range of topics, from infancy to adulthood, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Much of what we know about human development comes from research on children. However, developmental psychologists also study adults at different stages of life, including older adults. By understanding how people develop over time, we can better understand the challenges they face at different stages of life and learn ways to support them.
One key focus of developmental psychology is understanding how nature (our genes) and nurture (our environment) interact to influence our development. For example, researchers have found that both nature and nurture play a role in intelligence: some people are born with genes that make them more likely to be intelligent, but they still need a stimulating environment to reach their full potential.
Developmental psychologists use a variety of research methods to study human development. These methods include surveys, observations, experiments, and case studies.