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This special issue examines how decision-making processes, choice behavior, and reasoning capabilities evolve from childhood through adulthood. Understanding the developmental trajectory of these fundamental cognitive and behavioral processes provides insight into the mechanisms that underlie human judgment and decision-making across the lifespan.

The collection seeks to integrate perspectives from developmental psychology, behavioral economics, cognitive science, and neuroscience to explore how individuals acquire, refine, and modify their decision-making strategies as they mature. Contributions may address the biological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors that shape the development of choice behavior and reasoning abilities.

Empirical studies, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches that advance our understanding of developmental decision-making are welcome. This includes research examining both normative development and individual variation in how people learn to make choices and engage in reasoning from early childhood through adulthood.

Potential topics

• Developmental changes in decision-making and choice behavior across the lifespan
• Cognitive mechanisms underlying reasoning development
• Economic decision-making in children and adolescents
• The role of emotions and affect in developing choice behavior
• Neural and biological substrates of reasoning development
• Individual differences in decision-making trajectories
• The impact of education and experience on choice behavior
• Temporal and risk preferences across development
• Social influences on reasoning and decision-making
• Irrational choice patterns and their developmental origins