In developmental psychology, what do developmental psychologists primarily seek to understand?

• A. How to diagnose and treat severe mental disorders using psychotherapy and medication
• B. How people change and remain stable across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development
• C. How the brain’s neural circuits produce moment-to-moment perception and attention in laboratory tasks
• D. How groups and organizations influence workplace performance and employee satisfaction

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the main focus of developmental psychology, which is the study of how individuals grow and change over time.
2. Understand that developmental psychologists examine changes and consistencies in physical, cognitive, and socioemotional domains throughout the lifespan.
3. Recognize that this field is distinct from clinical psychology, which focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders.
4. Note that developmental psychology is also different from cognitive neuroscience, which studies brain mechanisms underlying perception and attention.
5. Acknowledge that developmental psychology is separate from industrial-organizational psychology, which studies workplace behavior and performance.