The purpose of this paper is to trace the role of culture as an explanatory construct in
developmental processes and outcomes, and its implications in the understanding of
developmental psychopathology. Literature reviews were conducted by historical period:
1930–1939, 1960–1969, and 1990–1999. The percentage of the total
articles and chapters pertaining to cultural issues increased as a function of time. Both conceptual
and methodological continuities and discontinuities were observed among the three periods. The
preponderance of comparative studies using deficit models still remains, but more enlightened
alternative conceptual models, within culture studies, and measures of cultural processes, are
emerging. In contrast, although contextual influences are considered important in developmental
psychopathology, the field lags in its empirical consideration of cultural influences. The need to
seriously address these issues will increase as globalization and rapid cultural change become
even more the norm than the exception.
The role of crowding in contextual influences on contour integration
