Lifespan Development

Lifespan Biopsychosocial Perspectives provides students with complete explorations of each developmental stage of the lifespan, beginning with conception and concluding with an examination of successful aging. The book presents human development theory and research within a biopsychosocial framework, presenting information regarding biological, psychological, and social functioning during each significant period of the lifespan.

The first chapter of the text presents readers with an introduction to human development, addressing the meaning of age and aging, the four key principles of human development, the social factors that influence the study of human development, and more. The succeeding chapters progress in step with the human lifespan, beginning with conception and prenatal development, moving through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and concluding with chapters devoted to later life.

The biopsychosocial perspective of the text emphasizes the transactional nature of biological, psychological, and social influences on the developing individual with a focus on positive development and the implications on health and wellness. It emphasizes the applied nature of the biopsychosocial perspective. Each chapter begins with a real-life scenario, challenging students to take the perspectives of individuals and practitioners dealing with issues at every stage of development.

Designed to provide readers with a holistic understanding of the complex progression of human life and aging, Lifespan Development is an ideal text for courses in psychology and human development. Cynthia R. Davis, Ph.D. , is a researcher for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in the Cooperative Studies Program, part of the VA Boston Healthcare System, and a senior lecturer in psychology at Suffolk University in Boston. She earned her master’s degree in human development and psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her doctoral degree in applied child development from Tufts University. Susan Whitbourne, Ph.D., ABPP , is a professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a prolific writer in the field, having authored or coauthored over 160 refereed articles and book chapters, 16 books, and a number of blog posts for Psych Today and Huffington Post.