Understanding Human Development Biological, Social and Psychological Processes from Conception to Adult Life

How does a fertilized egg become a person? How do the processes which shape the common features of human development also produce the rich variety of individual diversity? Understanding Human Development explores these questions in a lively and wide-ranging survey of the subject, offering both a topical and a chronological view of development. The author critically reviews research on human development from the earliest studies to the theories and issues of the 21st century, including recent breakthroughs in neuropsychology, cross-cultural psychology and in the application of dynamic systems theory. Coverage of methodology and ethics combined with thorough revision summaries in each chapter make this an invaluable introduction for students of developmental psychology. STUDENT SUPPLEMENTS * Companion Website at www.palgrave.com/psychology/thornton: Offers a range of study tools such as Chapter Summaries, Study Skills FAQ with links to useful websites, and an interview with the author. LECTURER SUPPLEMENTS * Companion Website at www.palgrave.com/psychology/thornton: Includes notes on how to use this book in your course, a complete bibliography as a resource for reading list construction, Teaching Aids section with links to other useful websites, Research Updates section, and access to all student resources.