Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Acknowledgements; Introduction; What this book is about; Why combine sociology and psychology?; Who this book is for and why it will be useful; Summary of the chapters: brief contents; 1 Key Life Course Principles and Theories; Introduction; Changes affecting the contemporary life course in the UK; People's perceptions of human 'nature' and lay theorizing; Sociology and psychology; Life course sociology and life span psychology; Social science research methods; Life span psychology, life course sociology and multi-disciplinarity. Reflection and discussion questionsRecommended reading; 2 Traditional and Modern Psychological Approaches to Children; Introduction; Physical development and memory; Psychoanalytic development; The psychosocial approach; Attachment; Modern psychoanalytic theories and attachment; Cognitive development; Modern cognitive developmental theory; Learning theories; Newer developments: ecological systems theory, neuroscience/neuropsychology and resilience; Language acquisition; Conclusion; Reflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; 3 The New Social Studies of Childhood; Introduction. Criticisms of developmental psychologyThe 'new sociology of childhood' theorists and other social perspectives; Conclusion; Reflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; 4 Adolescence and Youth; Introduction; Adolescence and psychology; Youth and sociology; Conclusion; Reflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; 5 Young Adulthood; Introduction; Young adulthood and psychology; Young adulthood and sociology; Conclusion; Reflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; 6 Middle Adulthood; Introduction; Middle adulthood and psychology; Middle age and sociology. ConclusionReflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; 7 Old Age; Introduction; Old age and psychology; Old age and sociology; Conclusion; Reflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; 8 Death, Dying, Grief and Loss; Introduction; Bereavement and psychology; The sociology of death and dying; Conclusion; Reflection and discussion questions; Recommended reading; Conclusion; References; Index; End User License Agreement.

Understanding the Life Course provides a uniquely comprehensive guide to the entire life course from an interdisciplinary perspective. Combining important insights from sociology and psychology, the book presents the concept's theoretical underpinnings in an accessible style, supported by real-life examples