Includes bibliographical references (p. [226]-234) and index.

Machine generated contents note: 1 The Birth of a Human Being: what makes us who we are? -- 2 The Balancing Act: insights from Freud -- 3 A Secure Base: the importance of attachment -- 4 The Emergence of Reason : Piaget and cognitive development -- 5 Making Connections: ideas from learning theory -- 6 Who Am I Going to Be? Changes in adolescence -- 7 Acting Like a Grown-up: challenges of adulthood -- 8 No One is an Islan d: family systems and their life-cycle -- 9 Access to Adulthood: growin g up with a disability -- 10 Coming to a Conclusion: themes in old age -- 11 The End: death and dying -- References -- Index.