This entry discusses key themes, thinkers, and theories within developmental psychology as well as more contemporary developments within the field. A short insight into the conception of the field as well as a brief breakdown of the major contributors is provided. The entry concludes with the current position of the field and visions for the future. An exploration of the field of developmental psychology is pertinent to the understandings of children and childhood as this field contains much of the inaugural research on children, which illuminates both historical and contemporary views of the progression of childhood studies.