This book features all of the lifespan without all of the bells and whistles. This chronologically-organized text is less expensive and briefer than most Lifespan texts. Its numerous examples drawn from education, nursing, and psychology make the content relevant to students from a variety of majors and backgrounds, while a highly praised study guide integrated into the text promotes and reinforces conceptual understanding.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Part 1 Introduction Chapter 1 An Example of Development Through The Lifespan Barack Obama - The Promise of Development Thinking About Lifespan Development Why Study The Lifespan? What Is Development? Changing Views of the Lifespan Children Through The Years Adolescence: A Time of Storm, Stress, or Calm? The Adult Years The Importance of Biopsychosocial Interactions Understanding Children's Cultures Contributors to Biopsychosocial Interactions Issues in Lifespan Development Continuity versus Discontinuity Nature vs. Nurture Developmental Research Data Collection Techniques Time Variable Designs Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 2 The Psychoanalytic Tradition Structures of the Mind The Developing Personality Psychosocial Crises and Development Erikson's Eight Psychosocial Stages The Cognitive Developmental Approach Jean Piaget's Theory The Cultural Framework Approach Lev Vygotsky's Theory The Zone of Proximal Development The Behavioral Approach Skinner and Operant Conditioning Bandura and Social Cognitive Learning A Bioecological Model Bronfenbrenner's System Analysis Developmental Theory: Current Status, Future Direction Interactions Among Levels of Development Developmental Systems Theory Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 2Beginnings Chapter 3 The Fertilization Process The Beginnings The Menstrual Cycle Infertility Causes of Infertility Assisted Reproduction Techniques Adoption Heredity at Work Chromosomes and Genes DNA: Structure and Function How Traits Are Transmitted Hereditary Disorders The Human Genome Project How The Human Genome Project Began Ethical, Legal, and, Social Implications Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 4 The Prenatal World The Germinal Period The Embryonic Period The Fetal Period Influences on Prenatal Development Maternal Influences Teratogens Diagnosing Fetal Problems The Birth Process Stages in the Birth Process Birth Complications The Special Case of Prematurity Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 3Infancy Chapter 5 Physical Development In Infancy Development Milestones of Infancy Brain Development Neonatal Reflexes Newborn Abilities Neonatal Assessment Techniques Motor Development Neonatal Problems Perceptual Development The Meaning of Perception Visual Perception Auditory Perception Cognitive Development Piaget's Sensorimotor Period Criticisms of Piaget Information Processing in Infancy Language Development Acquiring Their Language Key Signs of Language Development Conclusion & Summary Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 6 The Meaning of Relationships Characteristics of the Developing Relationship How Do Children Develop Relationships? The Role of Reciprocal Interactions Parental Roles: Expectations For a Relationship Attachment Bowlby's Work Attachment Research New Directions in Attachment Research Fathers and Attachment Temperament The Origins of Temperament Goodness of Fit Sensitive Responsiveness Early Emotional Development Emotions and Emotional Development Signs of Emotional Development Analyzing Emotional Expression Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 4Early Childhood Chapter 7 Physical and Motor Development Features of Physical Development Continuing Brain Development Boys' and Girls' Brains Influences on Physical Development in Early Childhood Growing Motor Skills Cognitive Development Piaget's Preoperational Period Information Processing Theory Children's Theory of Mind Early Childhood Education Piaget and Montessori Project Head Start Language Development Language as Rule Learning The Pattern of Language Development Bilingualism Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 8 The Family in Development A Changing View of the Family Parents and Their Children Siblings and Development Children of Divorce Day Care The Self Emerges The Development of Self Changes in the Developing Self The Role of Gender in Development Definition of Terms Theories of Gender Development cquiring Gender Identity Gender Stereotyping The Importance of Play The Meaning of Play Developmental Aspects of Play Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 5 Middle Childhood Chapter 9 Physical Development Brain Development During the Middle Childhood Years Nutrition Children Who Are Exceptional Cognitive Development Piaget and Concrete Operations New Ways of Looking at Intelligence Thinking and Problem Solving Children and Thinking Skills Problem-Solving Strategies The DUPE Model Moral Development The Path of Moral Development Piaget's Explanation Kohlberg's Theory Gilligan's In a Different Voice Language Development Changes in Usage Children and Their Books The Issue of Literacy Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 10 The Changing Sense of Self The Developing Self-Concept Self-Esteem and Competence Children and Self-Regulation The Influence of Peers Children's Friendships Peers in Middle Childhood Schools and Middle Childhood Are Schools Really That Important? Do Teachers Make a Difference? Schools and Development Television and Development Television and Cognitive Development Television and Violence Stress in Childhood Types of Stress Why Children React Differently to Stress Abused Children The Special Case of Sexual Abuse Resilient Children Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 6 Adolescence Chapter 11 Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence How Should We Define Adolescence? Theories of Adolescence Anna Freud's Psychological Theory Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Theory John Hill's Biopsychosocial Theory Physical Development Your Reproductive System When Does Puberty Start? The Secular Trend Body Image and Eating Disorders The Role of Stress Cognitive Development Variables in Cognitive Development: Piaget Emotions and Brain Development Adolescent Egocentrism Critical Thinking Creative Thinking Mental Health Issues Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 12 Psychosocial Development in Adolescence Changing American Families and Their Roles in Adolescent Life The Loss of Functions The Effects of Divorce The Nurturing Parent Peer Relations Developmental Patterns of Peer Groups Functions of Peer Groups Sexual Behavior Stages of Sexuality Autosexual Behavior Homosexual Behavior Heterosexual Behavior Sexually Transmitted Infections AIDS Other Sexually Transmitted Infections The Teenage Parent Illegal Behavior Substance Abuse Criminal Behavior Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 7Early Adulthood Chapter 13 Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood Initiation into Adulthood The Transition to Adulthood in the United States Implications of the Lack of an Initiation Ceremony Physical Development The Peak Is Reached Organ Reserve The Effect of Lifestyle on Health Cognitive Development Intellectual/Ethical Development "Women's Ways of Knowing" Patterns of Work The Phenomenon of the Dual-Career Family Home-Based Work Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 14Psychosocial Development in Early Adulthood Marriage and the Family Changing American Marriages and Families Types of Marriage Personal Development The Adult Life Cycle: Levinson Seasons of a Man's Life: Levinson Intimacy versus Isolation: Erikson Sexual Identity and Gender Roles Aspects of Gender Role The Traditio nalist View Evolutionary Psychology Androgyny Male versus Female Identity Interpersonal Relations Sexuality Marital Practices Forms and Factors of Love: Sternberg Validation: Fromm Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 8Middle Adulthood Chapter 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood Physical Development Health Muscular Ability Sensory Abilities The Climacteric Cognitive Development Intelligence New Views of Intelligence The Development of Creativity Learning Ability Patterns of Work Special Challenges for the Working Woman The Midcareer Crisis Some Suggestions for Dealing with the Midcareer Crisis Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 16 Psychosocial Development in Middle Adulthood Dealing with the Stresses of Adulthood The General Adaptation Syndrome Risk and Resilience Marriage and Family Relations Marriage at Middle Age Relationships with Aging Parents Relationships with Siblings Friendships The Middle-Aged Divorced Person Sex and Love in Middle Adulthood Personality Development: Continuous or Changing? Continuity versus Change Seasons of a Man's Life: Levinson Seasons of a Woman's Life: Levinson Gender Splitting Generativity versus Stagnation: Erikson Continuous Traits Theory Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Part 9Late Adulthood Chapter 17 Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood Must We Age and Die? Physiological Theories of Aging Genetic Theories of Aging Effects of the Natural Environment on Aging Other Modifiers of Aging Physical Development Reaction Time Sensory Abilities Other Body Systems Health Appearance Cognitive Development Cognitive Ability in the Elderly: Tests versus Observations Creativity Wisdom Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 18 Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood Social Development Gender Roles Sexuality The Elderly and Their Families The Older Worker Performance Retirement Personal Development The Committee on Human Development Erikson Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test Chapter 19 Dying and Spirituality The Role of Death in Life What Is Death? The Leading Causes of Death in the United States Four Types of Death The Legal Definition of Death Dealing Successfully with the Death of Others Grief Work Pathological Grieving The Role of Grief The Role of the Funeral Dealing Successfully with One's Own Death Suicide: The Rejection of Life The Overall Picture The Influence of Gender on Suicide "Successful" Dying Death with Dignity The Hospice: "A Better Way of Dying" Spirituality Religious Participation Frankl's Theory of Spirituality Jung's Theory of Spirituality Wilson's Theory of Spirituality Fowler's Theory of Spirituality Conclusion Key Terms What Do You Think? Chapter Review Test

Author Biography

Dr. John Dacey teaches courses in adolescent and adult development at Boston College and has a small practice as a psychotherapist. He is the author of 13 books on the subjects of anxiety, creativity and human development, including Your Anxious Child and The Safe Child Handbook. He has received public service awards from Newton, Peabody and Roxbury, MA. John F. Travers is a Professor of Child Psychology at Boston College. He is the author of about 30 articles and the following books: The Growing Child, 2/e, Learning, 2/e, Human Development Across the Lifespan, 7/e, The First Six Years, Educational Psychology, 3/e, Growth and Development Through the Lifespan, 2/e, Children's Literature: A Developmental Perspective Lisa B. Fiore, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Director of Early Childhood Education at Lesley University. She primarily teaches graduate students preparing to be early childhood and elementary educators, but also enjoys working with in-service teachers around professional development. Recent interests include the use of documentation to extend and enhance learning environments, and the use of rich media in classroom teaching. The mother of two young children, she is reminded daily of the competence and curiosity of young people, and how much grown-ups have to learn about the way things work. She has written several books, the most recent The Safe Child Handbook with co-author John Dacey.