Includes glossary, reference and index.

Contents: Part One:The study of human development: Introduction -- Theories of development -- Part Two:Beginnings: Reproduction, heredity and prenatal development -- Part Three: Birth and infancy: The first two years: Birth and physical development: The first two years -- Infancy: cognitive and language development -- Infancy: The development of emotional and social bonds -- Early childhood: 2 to 6: Early childhood: physical and cognitive development -- Part Four: Early childhood: Emotional and social development -- Middle childhood: 7 to 12: Part Five: Middle childhood: physical and cognitive development -- Middle childhood: emotional and social development -- Part Six: Adolescence: Adolescence: Physical and cognitive development -- Part Seven: Early adulthood: Early adulthood: Physical and cognitive development -- Part Eight: Middle adulthood: Middle Adulthood: Physical and cognitive development -- Middle adulthood: Emotional and social development -- Part Nine: Late adulthood: Late adulthood: Physical and cognitive development -- Late adulthood: Emotional and social development -- Part Ten:The End of life: Dying and death.