The most distinctive feature of this book is its unique integrated topical-Chronological approach. Almost all other life-span development textbooks adopt a chronological or "age-stage" approach, carving the life span into age ranges and describing the prominent characteristics of individuals within each age range. In contrast, we use a topical approach for the overall organization of the book blended with a chronological approach wihtin chapters. Each chapter focuses on a domain of development such as physical growth, cognition, or personality and traces developmental trends and influences in that domain from infancy to old age. Each chapter calls attention to age groups through major sections on infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

1. Understanding Life-Span Human Development
2. Theories of Human Development
3. Genes, Environment, and Development
4. Prenatal Development and Birth
5. The Physical Self
6. Perception
7. Cognition
8. Memory and Information Processing
9. Intelligence and Creativity
10. Language and Education

Etc.