Recent Theories of Human Development

Intended as supplemental reading in courses on theories of development this book augments traditional core texts by providing students with more depth on about two dozen recent and emerging theories that have appeared over the course of the past 20 years. This period has seen a decline of the traditional grand theories that attempt to apply to all people all the time in favor of micro theories that focus more on individual differences so a book like this actually points the way toward the future rather than dryly reviewing the past. In addition the author inspects the changing ways in which the concept of theory itself has been interpreted during this period and he concludes with a chapter suggesting future directions.