This text effectively balances the life cycle (micro) and community (macro) perspectives on development, and can be used in either a life cycle or community-oriented course. The text covers CSWE-mandated topics, and these topics are arranged and presented in a logical and easy-to-teach fashion. Students will find a multitude of interesting examples in the text, including a “Case Study” at the beginning of every chapter. “Case Study Review Questions,” found at the end of every chapter, help students to begin to analyze individual cases, and relate to the kinds of problems they will encounter in practice. In addition, “Exploring the Issues” boxes in every chapter examine a particular topic in more depth, such as “Male and Female Circumcision: Two Different Stories” in Chapter 2, Pregnancy and Early Childhood. End-of-chapter glossaries help students learn new vocabulary; extensive references can be used for additional study. An Instructor's Manual/Test Bank by the author, and a Computerized Test Bank, are also available.

Table of Contents:
Most chapters include “Objectives,” “Case Study,” “Introduction,” “Conclusion,” “Case Study Review Questions,” and “Key Terms.” 1.  The Context of Human Life. The Social Work Frame of Mind. The Person-in-Environment. The Nature of the Environment The Cultural Domain The Social Environment The Psychological Domain The Biological Domain The Natural Environment Physical and Spatial Environment. Creating Social Environments. Systems. Subsystems Boundaries Open vs. Closed Systems Self-Regulation. Levels of Systems. The Structural Model of Social Work Practice. The Nature of Macrosystems The Nature of Microsystems. 2.  Pregnancy and Early Childhood. Conception. Prenatal Care Prenatal Screening. The Maternal Environment. Influence of Maternal Diseases on Fetal Development Influence of Drugs on Fetal Development and Delivery. Pregnancy as Developmental Process. Postpartum Depression. Attachment. Theories of Child Development. Stage Theories Enlarging Self Theory. Young Children and Family Life. Diversity and Infancy. Diversity and Infant Health Diversity and Beliefs about Babies and Child-Rearing. 3.  Pre-Adolescence. Physiology and Growth. Developmental Tasks of Pre-Adolescence. Pre-Adolescence and the Family. Pre-Adolescence and Peer Groups. Problems with Peers. Child Maltreatment. Physical Abuse Neglect Sexual Abuse Psychological Abuse. Children's Mental Health. Extrinsic Factors Intrinsic Factors Potential Protective Factors. Pre-Adolescence and Human Diversity. Health. 4.  Adolescence. Physiological Maturation. Puberty. Developmental Tasks of Adolescence. Developing an Identity Developmental Tasks. Adolescence and the Family. Adolescence and Peer Groups. Problems Among Adolescence. Depression and Suicide Teenage Sexuality and Pregnancy Drugs and Alcohol Deviance. Adolescence and Diversity. Gender Gay and Lesbian Adolescents Hispanic Adolescents African American Adolescents Native Americans Asian Americans Adolescents in Rural Areas. 5.  Early and Middle Adulthood. Physiological Changes. Appearance and Strength Cardiovascular System Respiratory System Vision Auditory System Digestive and Excretory System Sleep Patterns. Reproduction and Sexuality. Early Climacteric Perimenopause Late Climacteric Climacteric in Men Sexual and Emotional Responses to the “Change in Life” Childbirth in Mid-life. Transitions in Adulthood. Early Adult Transition Early Life Structure for Early Adulthood The Age 30 Transition The Culminating Life Structure for Early Adulthood The Mid-life Transition Life Structure for Middle Adulthood • The Age 50 Transition • Criticisms of Levinson's Theory Gender and Transition to Mid-life. Developmental Tasks of Adulthood. The Tasks of Intimacy and Forming Families Achievement Needs The Interaction Between Love and Work The “Sandwich Generation” End of Life Issues. Mental Well-Being. Prior Functioning Impending Old Age Occupational Stability Health The Mid-life Crisis. 6.  Late Adulthood. The “Graying of America.” Aging and the Body. Skin Muscular-Skeleton The Nervous System The Circulation System The Respiratory System The Immune System The Digestive System The Urinary System The Senses Sex and Reproduction. Developmental Tasks of Late Adulthood. Social Theories of Aging Developmental Tasks of Aging. Aging and Groups. Peers Institutional Living. Late Adulthood and Diversity. Race and Ethnicity Gender Sexual Orientation The Rural Elderly. Late Adulthood and Health. Physical Health Mental Health Alcohol Abuse Elder Abuse Dementia. 7.  Diversity in Communities. The Diversity of Human Populations. Communities. Communities and Human Development. Positive Effects of Community Membership Negative Effects of Community Membership. Prejudice and Discrimination. Prejudice Discrimination. Relationships Between Communities. Minorities Race and Ethnic Groups Women The Elderly Sexual Orientation Physically Disadvantaged Cognitive Minorities Behavioral Minorities. Policies. Annihilation Forced Resettlement Separation Assimilation. 8.  Social Class. Social Inequality. Inequality Today. Social Classes. What are the Classes? Poverty in America. Counting the Poor Explanations of Poverty Who is Poor? Life Chances. Class and Values Class and Health Alienation Social Class and Self-Esteem Social Class and Gender Roles. 9.  Race and Ethnicity. The Meanings of Race and Ethnicity. Ethnic Groups as Cultural Systems. Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Groups. Prominent Racial and Ethnic Groups. Native Americans Latinos African Americans Asian Americans. Ethnicity and Economic Status. Self-Esteem and Racial Identity. Ethnicity and Mental Health. Ethnicity and Health. Hispanics African Americans. 10.  Gender. Gender Roles and Gender Identity. The Sex-Charged Environment. Parents Teachers Peer Influences. Theories of Gender Identity Formation. Social Learning Theory Cognitive Development Theory. The Gender “Profile”? Aggression Intelligence Self-Esteem Communication Styles. Gender and Mental Health. Work Roles and Women's Mental Health Marital Roles and Women's Mental Health Multiple Roles Emotional Differences Dependency. Gender and Health. Biological Factors AIDS and Women. Gender and Groups. 11.  Sexual Orientation. Defining Terms. Developing a Homosexual Identity. Coming Out. Prevalence Studies. What Causes Homosexual Behavior? Theories of Biology Psychosocial Theories Interaction Model Conclusions on the Nature of Theories of Homosexuality. Gay and Lesbian Relationships. Diversity among Lifestyles Stages of Gay Relationships Features of Gay Relationships. Gays and Lesbians in Heterosexual Relationships. Lesbians and Gays as Parents. Mental Health. Physical Health. Homophobia. Ethnicity and Homosexuality. 12.  Family Organization. Origins and Functions of the Family. Family Origins Family Functions. Family Images and Myths. Families as “Havens in a Heartless World” Family Self-Reliance Romancing the Family Family Myths and Rules. Defining the Healthy Family. Problem Solving Communication Role Functioning Affective Responsiveness Affective Involvement Behavior Control. Life Cycle Family Tasks. The Beginning Family The Family with Young Children The Adolescent Family The Launching Family The Postparental Family A Critique of the Life Cycle Model. 13.  Family Diversity. Diversity in Family Structure. Couples with No Children Families with Two Parents and Their Biological Children Single-Parent Families Families Formed by Remarriage Multigenerational Families Other Types of Family Diversity. Diversity in Social Class. Upper-Class and Middle-Class Families Working-Class Families Poor Families. Diversity in Ethnic or Racial Group Membership. African American Families Hispanic Families Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans Native Americans. 14.  Marital Violence and Dissolution. Spouse Abuse. How Violent Are Families? Why Spouse Abuse Happens The Impact of Spouse Abuse on Children. Divorce. Sociocultural Factors Dyadic Factors Individual Factors. The Process and Consequences of Divorce. Divorce as Process Children and Divorce. References. Index.