There are many areas of psychology. The field of human development is divided into five main theoretical groups. Theoretical groups are psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, behavioral and systemic. Each theoretical group has many theorists, all with different views, beliefs, research methods, and life experiences. All theories are useful in the field of psychology, but some theories may be more useful than others in specific careers. There are certain theoretical approaches that I will use when working with school-aged children and others that I will discard. Psychodynamic Theory The psychodynamic theory of human development focuses primarily on personality and social development. It is based on the belief that the mind is divided into two parts, the conscious and the unconscious. Theorists believe that development occurs in stages and that to develop a healthy, positive personality or identity, all stages must be successfully completed. Sigmund Freud is a major contributor to the field of psychology; he developed the id, ego and superego, which are described as the three elements of personality. Freud believed that development occurred in five psychosexual stages and that personality was strongly influenced by early childhood experiences. Erik Erikson is also a huge contributor to psychodynamic theory. He developed eight stages of psychosocial development across the lifespan, which focus more on conscious influences (Craig & Dunn, 2010). In my future career as a school counselor or psychologist, I will not use Freud's theory of psychosexual development because I believe it focuses too much on unconscious sexual drives. However, I will use his theory of id, ego and superego and remember the defense m...... middle of paper ...... try to teach the child and provide families with effective ways to help deal with the challenges they face. There are five main groups of theories in the field of human development. Within each of these major theoretical groups are numerous theories from multiple theorists, all of which provide valuable insights into human development and behavior. Some theories will prove very useful in certain career fields, while others may not be relevant. However, at least one of the theories will help me, or someone else, who may be struggling or need support and guidance during a difficult time. Works Cited Crain, W. (2011). Development theories: concepts and applications. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Craig, G.J., & Dunn, W.L. (2010). Understanding human development. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc..