Covering core topics such as the development of attachment, social relations, cognitive and language development and social and cultural contexts of development, this introductory text addresses the core knowledge domain of developmental psychology. It provides concise and focused coverage of the central concepts, research and debates, while developing students' higher level skills. Key chapters cover development across the lifespan, including the prenatal period, infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood, while activities help readers build the underpinning generic critical thinking and transferable skills they need to become independent learners, and to meet the requirements of their programme of study.