Includes glossary and index.

Contents: Unit one: Introduction -- Biological beginnings -- Physical and cognitive development in infancy -- Socioemotional development in infancy -- Unit two: Physical and cognitive development in early childhood -- Socioemotional development in middle and late childhood -- Socioemotional development in middle and late childhood -- Unit three: Physical and cognitive development in adolescence -- Socioemotional development in adolescence -- Physical and cognitive development in early adulthood -- Socioemotional development in early adulthood -- Unit four: Physical and cognitive development in middle adulthood -- Socioemotional development in middle adulthood -- Physical and cognitive development in late adulthood -- Socioemotional development in late adulthood -- Death, dying, and grieving -- Taking sides readings 1-4: Are peers more important than parents during the process of development? -- Does divorce create long-term negative effects for children? by Valliancourt -- is abstinence-only sex education the best way to teach about sex? -- May a dying person Hasten her death? by Buckley.