How does a fertilized egg become a person? How do the processes which shape the common features of human development also produce the rich variety of individual diversity? Understanding Human Development" explores these questions in a lively & wide-ranging survey of the subject offering both a topical & a chronological view of development. The author critically reviews research on human development from the earliest studies to the theories & issues of the 21st century including recent breakthroughs in neuropsychology cross-cultural psychology & in the application of dynamic systems theory. Coverage of methodology & ethics combined with thorough revision summaries in each chapter make this an invaluable introduction for students of developmental psychology. The textbook is supplemented by a Companion Website featuring a range of study tools such as Chapter Summaries Study Skills FAQ with links to useful websites & an interview with the author."