Developmental psychologists concentrate on the biological and environmental factors that contribute to human development. Which of the following best describes the focus of developmental psychology?

• A. It studies only the cognitive abilities of infants.
• B. It is primarily concerned with the diagnosis of learning disabilities.
• C. It examines how genetic and environmental influences shape growth and change across the lifespan.
• D. It focuses exclusively on the treatment of mental disorders in adulthood.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the scope of developmental psychology, which is a branch of psychology that studies how people grow and change throughout their entire life, from infancy to old age.
2. Step 2: Recognize that developmental psychology considers multiple factors influencing development, including both biological (genetic) and environmental (such as family, culture, and experiences) influences.
3. Step 3: Note that developmental psychology is not limited to studying only cognitive abilities or diagnosing learning disabilities; it has a broader focus on overall growth and change.
4. Step 4: Identify that developmental psychology is not exclusively concerned with treatment of mental disorders in adulthood, but rather with understanding development across all stages of life.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description of developmental psychology is that it examines how genetic and environmental influences shape growth and change across the lifespan.