No age differences? No problem

Abstract

In this essay we argue that the over‐reliance on age effects in the field of developmental psychology belies attention to actual development, obscuring attention to actual developmental processes. We use examples from diverse content areas in developmental psychology, such as narrative and autobiographical memory, personality trait development, Piagetian conservation tasks, pubertal timing, and Dynamic Systems Theory to build this argument. We conclude by arguing that focusing on individual differences in development, and cultural and historical context as major mechanisms of developmental processes will provide a fuller and richer understanding of the complexity of human development. Highlights: Over‐reliance on age differences does not explain development and obscures attention to individual differences and cultural context.