Abstract

The research and theory described in this volume carries considerable potential for enriching and informing the emerging field known as developmental psychopathology. This chapter offers several illustrations of how such an “informing” function might operate. Research on motivation and self-regulation in a developmental context, as reflected in chapters of this book, is discussed in the light of three central themes of developmental psychopathology: efforts to link basic developmental issues, theory, and research to psychopathology; the use of insights from atypical populations or psychological states to enrich understanding of normal developmental processes; and application of developmental theory and findings to the construction of interventions for dysfunction. Through a focus on these three themes, research on motivation and self-regulation may enrich the study of clinical phenomena and provide strong tests of its own basic precepts.

Introduction

I was trained in both developmental and clinical psychology, and my research spans the two areas. Thus, my reaction to the chapters in this volume may differ from that of most contributors. From my perspective, one of the most puzzling facts about the exciting work described in this book is the limited extent to which it has been used to inform research on developmental psychopathology. Therefore, in this chapter I offer several illustrations of how this “informing” function might operate. I review some of the recurrent themes of developmental psychopathology and suggest how development of these themes might be enriched by research on motivation and self-regulation within a life-span developmental context.