specialization|Developmental Psychology

Research themes

Students in the Developmental psychology specialization will focus on dealing with the description and explanation of psychological changes that take place in the life course, during childhood as well as during adulthood. The research often concerns new skills next to behavioural possibilities and their timing. Children learn to talk, walk, how to eat by themselves, and to explore and understand the world. Also during adulthood and old age, changes still occur continuously, for example in the development of identity and well-being. These developments all take place by means of continuous and mutual interactions between the individual and the social and physical environment.

The goal of knowledge in the field of developmental psychology lies in the enhancement of healthy growing up and ageing, with a focus on the individual and the interaction with the context.

Research groups

The Developmental Psychology specialization is organized by the Developmental Psychology expertise group, that conducts research on the processes that determine human development.

The research of the group starts from a complexity vision on processes and targets the analysis of individual longitudinal data, encompassing fundamental as well as practice-oriented research themes. The content of these processes is divers and current research comprises, among others, typical and atypical development in childhood, language acquisition, identity development, emergence of psychopathology and talent. Diagnostics and intervention in upbringing and education play an important role in different research projects.

Multidisciplinary programme

The Research Master with specialization Developmental Psychology is part of the theme Individual Development in Social Context within a multidisciplinary programme.

Specializations in this theme:
Developmental Psychology | Orthopedagogy | Pedagogical and Educational Sciences | Psychometrics and Statistics | Sociology

For questions about the IDS theme contact a.lichtwarck-aschoff rug.nl.

>Read more about the Research Master Behavioural and Social Sciences