Psychology and behavioral sciences have dramatically changed their approach and understanding of human behavior. It has become evident that affectivity, cognition, and human experience as a whole is a result of development. Developmental paths integrate psychobiological, attachment, social, and cultural aspects that interact and result in complex psychological development. In line with this perspective, the Development Science and Psychopathology doctore program is a full time academic program oriented to train high standard researchers who could contribute to different areas, such as development psychology, cognitive sciences, and neuroscience. It is a unique program in Latin America that intends to be a national and international referent in training researchers in what Kandel (2013) has called “the new science of mind”.
Dr. Jaime Silva C.
Director
PhD in Development Science and Psychopathology
PhD in Development Science and Psychopathology
Psychological complexity varies along human development and is expressed in cognition, emotions, and social relations (Sameroff, 2010). Research on human development (Brofenbrenner, 1960) is concerned with understanding –from a multidisciplinary perspective- how these elements interact and impact the individual through the life span. Brofenbrenner and Evans (2000) define developmental science as the systematic research on conditions and processes that generate continuity and changes in biopsychosocial aspects of human beings. Thus, this discipline extends its interest from genetics and neurobiology to family and social relationships (Cairns, Elder & Costello, 1996).
Empiric research on human development not only has an exploratory purpose, but it is also concerned with the design of scientific instruments, conceptual models, and research programs strategically oriented to understand the different complexity levels of adaptive and maladaptive development (Brofenbrenner & Evans, 2000; Fonagy, 2015; Overton & Lerner, 2014). On the other side, there are multiple models and theoretical approaches involved in understanding human development from a scientific view. All of them share the following principles and concepts, which are the basis of our doctorate program.
- Human development and psychobiology as a new science of mind.
- Development as a guiding principle
- Risk, protective, and promotive factors of development
- Psychopathology as a process which is not exclusively internal to the subject
- The comprehension of human development as a multi-level process
Development promoting factors such as biological, psychological, and sociocultural variables are the focus of interest of our program. In this context, it is expected that students in our doctoral program in Human Development Science and Psychopathology participate in research projects that address one or more dimensions of human development.
This program offers training in experimental psychology, students are expected to reach autonomy in the design, execution, and evaluation at experimental contexts, which should conclude in high impact and relevant publications. Thematic contents and training are related to the research areas of the Centro de Apego y Regulación Emocional of the Faculty of Psychology of the Universidad del Desarrollo. These include behavioral and neurophysiological techniques, among others of the psychosocial field.
The doctoral program is hosted in new facilities of the Centro de Apego y Regulación Emocional which counts with more than 220 m2 dedicated to research, including high standard’s scientific equipment such as the Laboratorio de Neurociencia and the Laboratorio de Ciencias Cognitivas.
Program´s goals
General
To train students in scientific research on adaptative and maladaptive trajectories of the interpersonal mind.
Specific goals
- To train students in theoretical knowledge on development sciences, to be able to create, conduct, and promote research on human development and psychopathology.
- To train students in research methods, design, and implementation and in various research techniques.
- To train students to be competitive in the creation and dissemination (publication) of scientific knowledge.
- To train students in teaching methods to develop high quality teaching activities as university professors.
- To train students for research careers that have an impact on public and private sector of our society.
National connections:
The Centro de Apego y Regulación Emocional is part of Instituto Milenio para la Investigación en Depresión y Personalidad (MIDAP), institution by which selected researchers participate in a widespread and long term initiative for the study of depression and personality in its multiple dimensions.
International connections:
The doctoral program in Development Science and Psychopathology fosters the insertion of its students in the global scientific context through international seminars and short and long term workshops in prestigious foreign laboratories. The possibility of having one of our international collaborators as co-supervisor is also available. Our international network includes:
· Jérôme Sackur, Ph.D. in Philosophy, Universidad de Sorbonne, Paris I, Francia. Associate professor of psychology at the Department of Cognitive Studies, École Normale Supérieure, Paris. Currently director of the Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique (LSCP).
· Natasha J. Cabrera Ph.D. Educational Psychology, University of Denver, Colorado.Professor of the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park. Director of the Family Involvement Lab
· Paul Hastings, Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology, University of Toronto. Associate professor of psychology of the University of California, Davis. Member of the Center for Mind & Brain y Center for Poverty Research.
· Sophie Havighurst, Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Melbourne. Associate professor of the University of Melbourne. Senior research of the Parental Skills Program “Tuning in to kids”.
· Anne Bliss, Ph.D. in Multicultural Education, Educational Assessment, University of Colorado at Boulder. Senior Instructor Emerita. Specialist in the teaching of the writing process of projects and research publications.