Human Development A Life-Span Approach

Preface The story of human development is an exciting portrayal of life in the process of becoming. From conception to death, the drama unfolds, revealing an ever more complex being in the making. This story is about you, me, and everyone around us: how we began, how we grew and how we changed before we were born, during our infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adult years. As you read this story, examine your own life. Learn as much as possible about the various influences that have fashioned you into the person you are today. In doing so, you will acquire a keen understanding of the development of others. You will gain an appreciation for the factors that have influenced your friends and family, and learn how those factors have shaped their identities. By looking back and thinking about who you are and how you became you, you will be well equipped to set new sights for the future, and to adjust your own life course so that your development proceeds in the new directions that you chart for yourself. Organization and Divisions There are two basic ways to write about and teach the subject of human development. One method is the chronological approach, which presents all aspects of development during each separate stage of life. The other is the topical approach, which discusses each aspect of development through the entire life span. This text combines the best features of both approaches. This life span development text is organized into five major parts. Part I provides an introduction to a life-span development perspective. It outlines the periods and theories of development, as well as the research methods used in studying this subject. Part II discusses heredity and environmental influences on development, prenatal development, childbirth, and the characteristics of the neonate. Parts III, IV, and V divide the life span into broad chronological age divisions: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, respectively. Five topics are discussed within each of these age categories: perspectives, and physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. While each of these dimensions emphasizes a particular aspect of development, there is a considerable interdependency among them all. Equal attention is given to these three major age groups, reflecting an emphasis on development throughout the life span. This is important because many development books will devote a majority of space to the discussion of the child at the expense of the adolescent and adult. The topical presentation within each of these age groups makes this text ideal for use in courses emphasizing either a topical or chronological approach to life span development. Developmental Theory The aim of this text is not to adopt and present one theory of development. Rather, it is to reflect an eclectic point of view that recognizes the wide variety of theories that can contribute to the total picture of human development, and select the most important ideas from those numerous theoretical positions. The result is a modern philosophy of human development that provides a comprehensive understanding of the theories of developmental psychology. Development is explored as a life-span process, influenced by the interaction of heredity and the environment, beginning with conception and continuing until death (or after death, as some believe). This text examines how development can be seen as simultaneously continuous and discontinuous, controllable and beyond our control, stable and changing. There are many different theories that can tell the story of human development across the life span, and it is the similarities we find in these theories that teach us about ourselves and each other. Features o f the Text What is studied must be relevant. This text deftly applies academic and scholarly principles to our everyday lives, personalizing discussions through the use of manyrealRice, F. Philip is the author of 'Human Development A Life-Span Approach', published 2001 under ISBN 9780130185655 and ISBN 0130185655.