Understanding Human Development: Toward a Comprehensive Framework

Abstract

Across a variety of scientific fields, ranging from genetics to neurophysiology to developmental psychology to cultural psychology, our understanding of human development has increased exponentially in the last three decades. The time is ripe to unite all these perspectives in a bold effort to create a comprehensive understanding of the nature and sources of human growth and development. This article presents the rationale for this proposal, describes a research area (growth of executive function during school transition) that could realize this integration, and outlines the challenges needed to bring it to fruition.