Developmental Psychologist

Explore the Developmental Psychologist career...

The career of one developmental psychologist can appear quite different from the career of another, one focusing on government policies that impact the elderly, another working in a children's museum or for a toy company. Another developmental psychologist might work for the United Nations, studying how hunger and poverty in developing nations impact women, and yet another developing interventions for premature infants in neonatal intensive care units.

It's often this rich diversity of options that draws those into a developmental psychologist career. These professionals often focus their work on one human life stage, yet it's their common interest in how and why people change, and what influences change, that inspires individuals to pursue a developmental psychologist career.

Developmental psychology breaks down human development into the following life stages:

Pregnancy, Infancy, and Childhood

As a developmental psychologist who focuses on the earliest stages of development, from conception to roughly adolescence, a large number of diverse career options exist.

Developmental Psychologist Common Areas of Employment

  • Child abuse and prevention (see Child Abuse)
  • Pregnancy educator and resource provider
  • Adoption agencies
  • Zero to three early development programs
  • Child care
  • Early childhood education
  • Welfare agencies
  • Agencies for missing and exploited children
  • Media and children's programming
  • Toy and game development
  • Policy writer and advocate
  • Education consultant
  • Developmental psychologist at a children's hospital
  • University professor and researcher

Adolescence

Adolescence is the bridge from childhood to adulthood, and most teens make the transition with few lasting difficulties (see Adolescence Developmental Psychology). However, this is the stage when some teens start to experiment with alcohol and drugs, leading to future abuse and addictions, others struggle with body image and eating disorders, and still others develop conduct disorders, depression, and other emotional conditions.

Developmental psychologists focusing on the teenage years work in a variety of organizations helping teens and their families get through difficult issues and problems. Some also work in prevention, developing public information campaigns and other programs to deter teens from problematic behaviors.

Many of the same employment areas listed above under pregnancy, infancy and childhood also include positions for developmental psychologists focusing on teens, such as adoption and welfare agencies, media programming, and education consulting.

Here are some other organizations that hire developmental psychologists to develop programs and interventions for adolescents:

  • Boarding homes for troubled teens
  • Substance abuse and addiction centers
  • Organizations for physically disabled teens
  • Optional high schools for troubled teens

Some developmentalists also work in private mental health and health care clinics, and many become clinical developmental psychologists, treating children and adolescents on a personal basis.

Child and Adolescent Organizations:

Adulthood

Violence and crime issues peak during early adulthood. Developmental psychologists work for violence preventions programs and correctional institutions to address these issues.

Middle adulthood issues often involve marital and family issues, conflict and stress management, and healthy eating and weight control. Developmental psychologists focusing on this or any stage of adulthood work to influence organizations on the development of media campaigns and public awareness programs. They also conduct research at universities, publishing empirically based research to help clinical psychologists and counselors develop interventions and programs.

One of the most exciting, dynamic areas of developmental psychology concerns that of older adults. Life expectancy is increasing: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that by the year 2030, nearly 20% of the population will be aged 65 or over, up from 13% today.

Research shows that living a full, non-disabled life after the age of 65 means healthy lifestyle habits that start as early as possible, and continue into older adulthood. Developmental psychologists help older adults live active, meaningful lifestyles by consulting and working with health care professionals on appropriate programs, techniques, and scientifically based interventions.

Developmental psychologists also address the main stressors that affect this life stage: loss of loved ones, chronic diseases, care-giving demands, memory problems, sexuality, health promotion and substance abuse. Nursing homes, senior citizen centers, hospitals, and many nonprofit agencies that work with older adults hire developmental psychology professionals.

If you are interested in becoming a developmental psychologist, specializing in any of the life stages, request information from schools offering degree programs in psychology or a related field. Usually a master's degree or PhD in psychology is required, but some organizations will hire those with bachelor's degrees for entry-level positions.