Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-200) and index.

Stage theories of lifespan development -- Ecological theories of human development -- What is adolescence? -- Social teenagers -- From teenagers to early adults -- From early adults to mid-lifers -- Old age and development: towards successful ageing -- Towards a new positive theory of human development.

From the teenage years to retirement, each phase of life presents different challenges and new experiences. Examining the patterns of development throughout the lifespan, the authors provide key insights into how we experience the world, and they examine how established theories have been challenged by recent changes to the understanding of human development. The book discusses each of the different life phases and how psychological principles aid our understanding of them.