What Is Developmental Psychopathology?
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- Developmental psychopathology studies the development of mental health conditions.
- Research from this field helps clinicians prevent, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions.
- You need a doctoral degree to work in developmental psychopathology.
Developmental psychopathology studies the pathways that lead to adaptive behavior and mental health conditions. Developmental psychopathology may be right for you if you like learning about how different factors influence mental health and are interested in helping clinicians prevent and treat mental health conditions through your research.
Learn why psychologists study developmental psychopathology, how clinicians use developmental psychopathology, and how you can break into the field.
Why Does Developmental Psychopathology Matter?
Across the lifespan, people develop behaviors that help them adapt — or prevent them from adapting — to different areas of their lives. Developmental psychopathology studies the pathways and factors that influence the development of these adaptive and maladaptive behaviors.
Without the field of developmental psychopathology, finding out how different factors affect the development of behaviors and mental health conditions would take costly and time-consuming interdisciplinary research within three or more fields, including psychology, sociology, and genetics.
Clinicians who integrate developmental psychopathology into their practices can understand how, why, and in whom psychological conditions develop. They can use their knowledge of how maladaptive behaviors and mental health conditions develop to prevent them or intervene earlier in their development.
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Careers in Developmental Psychopathology
Clinical Psychologist
Median Annual Salary (May 2022): $90,130
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +10%
Clinical psychologists need a doctoral degree in psychology and a license to practice in their state. As a clinical psychologist, you'll examine and diagnose mental health and substance misuse conditions according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). You'll work with an interdisciplinary healthcare team to treat mental health conditions.
School Psychologist
Median Annual Salary (May 2022): $81,500
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +6%
School psychologists use psychological techniques to address students' learning and behavioral conditions. They counsel students and families, design and implement performance plans, and evaluate students' performances. You need a master's degree and certification to qualify for these roles. You can get a job without a license in some states.
Psychiatrist
Median Annual Salary (May 2022): $226,880
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +9%
Psychiatrists earn a medical degree (MD or DO) and complete a four-year residency. They use psychotherapy to help their patients explore past experiences and change their behavior and habits. As medical doctors, they can also treat patients in the hospital and use medication to help correct chemical imbalances that contribute to mental health conditions.
Mental Health Counselor
Average Annual Salary (July 2023): $49,710
Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +22%
Mental health counselors usually need at least a master's degree in social work, counseling, or a related field and a license to practice. Some roles may require a doctoral degree. They treat mental health conditions and counsel individuals, families, and groups through relational and emotional problems. They may focus on specific populations, such as veterans or children.
How to Get Into Developmental Psychopathology
You'll need at least a doctoral degree in psychology to research developmental psychopathology. You can also get your doctoral degree in psychology specialties, such as developmental or clinical psychology.
You usually do not need a license for a career in research. However, if you want to become a clinical psychologist and use developmental psychopathology in your practice, you'll need to become a licensed psychologist.
Is Developmental Psychopathology Right for Me?
Before you decide whether you want a career in developmental psychopathology, consider your time, money, and interest in research. You can use developmental psychopathology research in clinical practice, but a career in developmental psychopathology is a career in research. You'll need at least a Ph.D. in psychology, which can take more than 10 years and tens of thousands of dollars to complete.
If you're interested in researching developmental psychopathology, take classes in abnormal and developmental psychology to evaluate whether a career in developmental psychopathology is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Developmental Psychopathology
What are the goals of developmental psychopathology?
The goal of developmental psychopathology is to find out how factors, such as a person's environment, influence the development of mental health conditions and behaviors that help or prevent people from participating in their lives. Research in this area helps clinicians prevent or intervene earlier in the development of mental health conditions.
What degree should someone pursue if they are interested in developmental psychopathology?
If you want a career in developmental psychopathology, consider degrees in psychology, developmental psychology, or psychopathology.
How can clinicians use developmental psychopathology in their work?
Clinicians can use their understanding of the pathways and factors that influence mental health and substance misuse conditions to prevent mental health conditions and intervene sooner.
How does developmental psychopathology differ from developmental psychology?
Developmental psychopathology and developmental psychology study the pathways and factors that influence people's growth and development. However, developmental psychopathology focuses on the pathways and factors that influence development of maladaptive behavior and mental health and substance misuse conditions.
