Intended for adult development and ageing courses in departments of psychology, human development, nursing, social work, education, home economics and gerontology, this text offers a presentation of theory and applications. This edition reflects changing interests and research in the field of ageing. An important change is the introduction of a new, integrating theme, the biopsychosocial model, which is explained in the first chapter and featured throughout the text. Other changes include: a new chapter on diversity, incorporating material on gender, ethnicity and stratification; a new chapter on information processing, containing material on attention, psychomotor skills, human factors, and languages, appears prior to (and clarifies material in) chapters on memory and intelligence. New topics include: biological theories, brain imaging techniques, AIDS, theories of stress, autobiographical memory, reflective judgment, possible selves and dementia in its various forms.