Developmental Psychology in the Context of Other Behavioral Sciences

Certain characteristics of psychology that have been instrumental to its success, such as emphases on an experimental approach, on group means, on theory-driven research, and on analysis but not synthesis, can be detrimental to progress if taken too far. In addition, psychology's success has led to its fragmentation into subdisciplines, with too little cross-fertilization. Future progress may depend on a focus not only on individuals, but also on individuals in a network of social relationships whose course is influenced by social norms and values. In this connection, it is helpful to distinguish a number of levels of social complexity and to come to terms with the dialectical relations between them. We must pay more attention to description as a first stage in the analysis of process, recognizing that description can never be perfect and that it must embrace the several levels of social complexity. We must also come to terms with the relations between the several levels of complexity, and thus between the several subdisciplines appropriate to them. This multidisciplinary approach can be based on a study of relatively stable human behavioral characteristics and must include the relations among individuals, relationships, and culture. Some pointers can be found in a judiciously used evolutionary approach.