Chapter Outline

Why Study Life-Span Development

The Historical Perspective

Child Development

Life-Span Development

The Twentieth Century

Characteristics of the Life-Span Perspective

Development Is Lifelong

Development Is Multidimensional

Development Is Multidirectional

Development Is Plastic

Development Is Contextual

Development Is Studied by a Number of Disciplines

Development Involves Growth, Maintenance, and Regulatoin

Some Contemporary Concerns

Health and Well-Being

Parenting and Education

Sociocultural Contexts

Social Policy

Biological, Cognitive, and Socioemotional Processes

Periods of Development

Prenatal Period

Infancy

Early Childhood

Middle and Late Childhood

Adolescence

Early Adulthood

Middle Adulthood

Late Adulthood

Conceptions of Age

Chronological Age

Biological Age

Psychological Age

Social Age

Age and Happiness

Developmental Issues

Nature and Nurture

Continuity and Discontinuity

Stability and Change

Evaluating Developmental Issues