Let's go WILD: increasing inclusivity in theories of developmental psychology

Area of Science:

• Developmental psychology
• Cross-cultural psychology
• Theory development

Background:

• Developmental psychology research predominantly uses samples from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) societies.
• This WEIRD bias extends to developmental theories, limiting their generalizability and applicability across diverse populations.
• There is an urgent need to revise developmental theories to be more inclusive and scientifically robust.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the extent to which prominent developmental theories exhibit WEIRD bias or align with a Worldwide, In situ, Local, and Diverse (WILD) approach.
• To identify inclusivity gaps in foundational developmental theories, specifically Shared Intentionality Theory and Attachment Theory.
• To propose practical steps for increasing inclusivity in developmental psychology research and theory building.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of two prominent developmental theories: Shared Intentionality Theory (bottom-up) and Attachment Theory (top-down).
• Evaluation of theoretical constructs, foundational databases, and claims for cultural diversity and WEIRD bias.
• Application of the Five Steps to Increase Inclusivity framework.

Main Results:

• Shared Intentionality Theory demonstrates WEIRD bias due to a lack of culturally diverse data in its core constructs.
• Attachment Theory exhibits inclusivity issues by overlooking diverse social-emotional constructs (e.g., interdependence, communal orientations) prevalent in non-WEIRD cultures.
• Both theories fail to adequately represent the developmental landscape of all humans.

Conclusions:

• Developmental theories must move beyond WEIRD biases to embrace a Worldwide, In situ, Local, and Diverse (WILD) perspective.
• Acknowledging and addressing theoretical inclusivity is crucial for both scientific advancement and ethical application of psychological knowledge.
• Implementing strategies for increasing inclusivity can help decenter psychological theories from a WEIRD mindset and foster a more representative understanding of human development.