本书讲述了一个故事，一个关于我们自己、我们父辈和我们后代的生活故事。这是一个关于人类的故事，从中我们可以看到一个人如何成长他自己、如何走完他的一生。
与其他学科不同的是，人生发展研究讲述的是非常贴近我们个人生活的事情。它涵盖了一个人从被孕育直到死亡的整个历程。虽然这门学科也借助和采用各种概念、观点和理论，但它的核心是人——我们的父母、朋友、熟人和我们自己。
《发展心理学：一生的发展》力求以一种能够激发、培养并塑造读者兴趣的方式，来讲解该学科的精髓。希望本书能够引发学生对该学科的兴趣，引导他们用该学科的观点看世界，让他们理解有关人生发展的问题。通过介绍人生发展研究的民果、现状以及未来的发展趋势，我们希望学生即使在结束对该学科的正式学习之后很长时间内，仍能保持对它的浓厚兴趣。

Preface
PART 1 BEGINNINGS
CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Lifespan Devepment
PROLOGUE:A BRAVE NEW WORLD
LOOKING AHEAD
AN OIENTATION TO LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
KEY ISSUES AND QUESTIONS:DETERMINING THE NATURE-AND NURTURE-OF LIFESPAN
DEVELOPMENT
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
RESEARCH METHODS
REVIEW AND RETHINK
LOOKING BACK
EPLOGUE
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
CHAPTER 2 The Start of Life:Genetics and Prenatal Development
PROLOGUE:GIANT STEPS
LOOKING AHEAD
HEREDITY
THE INTERACTION OF HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT
PRENATAL GROWTH AND CHANGE
REVIEW AND RETHINK
LOOKING BACK
EPLOGUE
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
CHAPTER 3 Birth and the Nawborn Infant
PROLOGUE:LABOR OF LOVE
LOOKING AHEAD
BIRTH
BIRTH COMPLICATIONS
THE COMPERETENT NEWBORN
REVIEW AND RETHINK
LOOKING BACK
EPLOGUE
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
BRIDGES
Part 2 INFANCY FORMING THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE
CHAPTER 4 Physical Development in Infancy
CHAPTER 5 Cognitive Development in Infancy
CHAPTER 6 Socia and Personality Development in Infancy
Part 3 THE PRESCHOOL YEARS
CHAPTER 7 Physical and Cognitive Development in the Preschool Years
CHAPTER 8 Social and Personality Development in the Preschool Years
Part 4 THE MIDDLE CHILDHOOD YEARS
CHAPTER 9 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
CHAPTER 10 Social and Personality Development in Middle Childhood
Part 5 ADOLESCENCE
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
Part 6 EARLY ADULTHOOD
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
Part 7 MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
Part 8 LATE ADULTHOOD
CHAPTER 17 Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
CHAPTER 18 Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood
Part 9 ENDINGS
CHAPTER 19 Death and Dying