far, we have discussed basic issues of human development
in terms of extremes—solutions favoring one side or
the other. But as we trace the unfolding of the field, you will see
that the positions of many theorists have softened. Some contemporary
theorists believe that both continuous and discontinuous
changes occur. Some recognize that development has
both universal features and features unique to the individual
and his or her contexts. And a growing number regard heredity
and environment as inseparably interwoven, each affecting the
potential of the other to modify the child’s traits and capacities
(Huttenlocher, 2002; Reiss, 2003; Rutter, 2002).
These balanced visions owe much to the expansion of
research from a nearly exclusive focus on the first two decades
of life to include development during adulthood. In the first
half of the twentieth century, it was widely assumed that development
stopped at adolescence. Infancy and childhood were
viewed as periods of rapid transformation, adulthood as a plateau,
and aging as a period of decline. The changing character
Chapter 1 • History, Theory, and Research Strategies b 7
Early research on human development focused only on children.
Since the 1960s, researchers have also investigated how adults
develop over the life course. These three bird watchers, all in their
seventies, continue to undergo important changes, physically,
mentally, and socially. Their expressions convey the satisfactions
and pleasures that many elders experience in the final decades.
© DAVID YOUNG-WOLFF/PHOTOEDIT
S
far, we have discussed basic issues of human developmentin terms of extremes—solutions favoring one side orthe other. But as we trace the unfolding of the field, you will seethat the positions of many theorists have softened. Some contemporarytheorists believe that both continuous and discontinuouschanges occur. Some recognize that development hasboth universal features and features unique to the individualand his or her contexts. And a growing number regard heredityand environment as inseparably interwoven, each affecting thepotential of the other to modify the child’s traits and capacities(Huttenlocher, 2002; Reiss, 2003; Rutter, 2002).These balanced visions owe much to the expansion ofresearch from a nearly exclusive focus on the first two decadesof life to include development during adulthood. In the firsthalf of the twentieth century, it was widely assumed that developmentstopped at adolescence. Infancy and childhood wereviewed as periods of rapid transformation, adulthood as a plateau,and aging as a period of decline. The changing characterChapter 1 • History, Theory, and Research Strategies b 7Early research on human development focused only on children.Since the 1960s, researchers have also investigated how adultsdevelop over the life course. These three bird watchers, all in theirseventies, continue to undergo important changes, physically,mentally, and socially. Their expressions convey the satisfactionsand pleasures that many elders experience in the final decades.© DAVID YOUNG-WOLFF/PHOTOEDITS
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