Human Developmental Science for Social Justice

Abstract

The author’s one wish for the study of human development is that the field will value and prioritize research that is useful for promoting social change in the service of social justice. The author describes the utility of human developmental science and its societal importance, followed with what it would mean for the field to value and prioritize research that is useful for promoting social change and social justice. The author identifies several strategies that could facilitate a values shift in human developmental science toward the goals. The author argues that such shifts in the culture of human developmental science will improve science and position the field to provide leadership for social change for social justice.