Lifespan Development: The Journey from Beginning to End was written for a one-semester introductory course in developmental psychology that is usually required for psychology majors. The course also tends to be required for nursing majors, and it is recommended for students who plan to attend medical school or graduate school in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or pharmacy.
The text covers the life span from prenatal development to the end of life. It presents a biopsychosocial focus, emphasizing the interdependent and interactive nature of development at all life stages. The intention was to create a straightforward text that is comprehensive, without being encyclopedic, and that covers the main theories of human development, recent research, and current issues related to the main topics of human development. Throughout the text, the material is related to applications in the areas of parenting, interpersonal relationships, education, and the world of work. Critical thinking exercises encourage closer examination of selected topics, and links to current websites and videos keep the content updated as new issues arise. Each chapter is followed by a multiple-choice quiz designed to further stimulate the student’s thinking process. The text is adaptable for variety of teaching schedules, instructor styles, and student populations.
Jutta M. Street is professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology at Campbell University. Before she joined the Campbell psychology program in 2007, she taught psychology at the community college level and at the university level. She grew up in Germany and then attended college in the United States. She obtained a B.A. in English Language and Literature and a Secondary English Teaching certification from the University of Pembroke. She received her M.S. in experimental psychology and her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from North Carolina State University.
Her main areas of interest within psychology are developmental, experimental, biological, and personality. She has taught a variety of psychology courses, including introductory psychology. She currently teaches mostly developmental psychology, biological psychology, and research methods. Her research interests focus on critical thinking in college students. Since 2012, she has led several summer study abroad programs in various European locations where students study the history of psychology and visit important sites related to the history of psychology and many beautiful cultural sites.
Chapter 1: Meet the Science of Lifespan Development
Chapter 2: Prenatal Development
Chapter 3: Childbirth and the Newborn
Chapter 4: Infancy (Year 1)
Chapter 5: Toddlerhood (Year 2)
Chapter 6: The Preschool Years (Ages 3-5)
Chapter 7: Middle Childhood (Ages 6 – 11)
Chapter 8: Adolescent Development
Chapter 9: Emerging Adults (Ages 18-29)
Chapter 10: Early Adulthood (Ages 30–40)
Chapter 11: Middle Adulthood (Ages 40–65)
Chapter 12: Late Adulthood (65—Death)