Developmental Science

Developmental science seeks to describe, explain, and optimize intraindividual (within-person) change and interindividual (between-person) differences in intraindividual change across the life span. At this writing, contemporary developmental science theory is characterized by models derived from the relational developmental systems (RDSs) metamodel. Methodologically, the field involves quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research as integral to understanding the meaning and course of human development. In turn, developmental science is itself developing. New areas of scholarship are being drawn from other disciplines, such as biology and economics. For instance, the new understanding of the role of biology in human development is predicated on an integration of evolutionary theory and of epigenetics. Epigenetics constitutes variations in the expression of either phenotypes or genes that occur through processes other than variations in DNA sequence. More simply, genes alone do not determine trajectories of development; rather, epigenetics refers to variation in the expression of genetic material occurring in different contexts. In addition, there are methodological innovations in the study of development that are based on the fact that developmental change (that is, variation within a person across time) is individualistic and not necessarily reflected in group averages (this issue has resulted in the use of what are termed idiographic analyses).

Moreover, data analysis methods derived from economics (procedures termed econometric methods) are being used to provide evidence about causal processes in community-based programs aimed at promoting positive human development. In addition, greater attention is being given to the use of RDS-based evidence about changes in associations between individuals and their contexts (e.g., their families, schools, out-of-schooltime activities, and community organizations) to generate ways to optimize human development and to promote social justice.

This entry discusses the present status of developmental science and describes the nature and implications of the concepts associated with this perspective. We begin by focusing on the RDS metamodel.