Human Growth & Development provides an accessible and student-friendly introduction to social and psychological human development across the lifespan. Aimed at students within social work, health, nursing and education, the author presents the key theories and empirical evidence about the way people grow and change over the lifespan, relating theoretical ideas in an accessible and lively way to practice. The book uses examples based on real situations and invites the reader to measure ideas against their own experience and intuitions. The book contains a wealth of material, presented with a strong focus on clarity and explanation. The author has a background in academic psychology and has worked for many years as a social worker, giving him the practical experience and knowledge to write a highly relevant book aimed at students whose needs are essentially practical.

Table of Contents

The Birth of the Human Being What Makes Us Who We Are? The Balancing Act Insights from Freud A Secure Base The Importance of Attachment The Emergence of Reason Piaget and Cognitive Development Making Connections Ideas from Learning Theory What Am I Going to Be? Changes in Adolescence Acting Like a Grown-Up Challenges of Adulthood No One Is an Island Family Systems and Their Life Cycle Access to Adulthood Growing Up with a Disability Coming to a Conclusion Themes in Old Age The End Death and Dying