The article is an attempt at formulating a new ethnofunctional theoretical and methodological approach to psychological development answering the requirements of the current stage of the historical and cultural development of mankind. The author discusses instances of deviations in mental development due to the so called ethnofunctional psychological disontogenesis. The author argues the necessity of the new approach and its applicability to the study of human development citing national and international authors and on the basis of some empirical findings.