Includes glossary

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

A cultural approach to human development -- Human development today and its origins -- Humanity today : a demographic profile -- Theories of human development -- Ancient conceptions of development -- How we study human development -- The scientific study of human development -- Genetics and prenatal development -- Genetic influences on development -- Genetic basics -- Prenatal development and prenatal care -- Prenatal development -- Birth and the newborn child -- Birth and its cultural context -- The birth process -- The Neonate -- The Neonate's health -- Caring for the Neonate -- Nutrition : is breast best? -- Infancy -- Physical development -- Growth and change in infancy -- Cognitive development -- Piaget's theory of cognitive development -- Emotional and social development -- Temperament -- Toddlerhood -- Early childhood -- Middle childhood -- Adolescence -- Emerging adulthood -- Young adulthood -- Middle adulthood -- Late adulthood -- Death and afterlife beliefs.