Developmental Science, Developmental Systems, and Contemporary Theories of Human Development

This chapter discusses the emphasis in contemporary scholarship about human development on developmental systems theories, models of development that emphasize relational approaches to the multiple levels of organization involved in development across the life span. Philosophical and scientific interest in developmental systems theory has influenced the study of human development to change from an emphasis on psychological science to an interest in integrating ideas and methods from multiple scientific fields in the service of describing, explaining, and optimizing the course of human life. Within this relational approach, the study of diversity and the promotion positive development across the life span become major substantive foci of developmental science.