Human development and intervention in childhood psychopathology.

Changes sought by interventionists can be influenced by the classes of changes labeled "development." We argue there are several features of the child's developing physical, psychological, and behavioral characteristics that suggest the sorts of interventions that may be efficacious and the ones that may be less efficient or counterproductive. Illustrations are drawn from the literatures pertinent to such topics as systematic desensitization, cognitive-behavioral self-control therapy, interventions for social isolates, and parent training programs, and involve preventive as well as remedial/therapeutic interventions. The combined efforts of developmentalists and interventionists may contribute to clarifying one of the major issues in human development today, that of constancy and change over the life course.