Developmental Psychopathology: The Emergence of a Discipline

This chapter describes the emergence of developmental psychopathology as a distinct discipline and independent field of study. The historical underpinnings leading to this evolution and the principles and tenets guiding the development of theory and research in this field are discussed. In contrast to earlier approaches to understanding the emergence of child and adolescent disorders, developmental psychopathology emphasizes the importance of considering typical development. In doing so, it posits that only by understanding the relations between a typically developing organism and its environment can one understand how those processes might go awry. Considering the acquisition of normal developmental milestones and understanding the impact of different risk and protective factors are critical to building theory and designing empirical research in this field of study. Developmental psychopathology further posits the importance of multi-level, multi-system designs that are longitudinal and sensitive to biology and social context. In this field, developing children are viewed as active agents in their development, and it is understood that bi-directional interactions between children and their environments can lead to new challenges and developmental achievements across their lifespans. Outcomes and mechanisms of change in developmental psychopathology are complex; they require understanding foundational processes, developmental sequences, and cascading effects as they interact over time.