Books on intellectual development typically separate development into distinct developmental periods: the formation of intelligence and basic cognitive skills that occurs until adolescence, and the maintenance, decline, or improvement of these intellectual skills across the adult life span. Robert Sternberg and Cynthia Berg have integrated research on these two development periods, by bringing together authors that provide a comprehensive overview to the major approaches to intellectual development. Six approaches to intellectual development are examined by authors who use the perspective during childhood or during adulthood: psychometric, Piagetian, new-Piagetian, information-processing, learning, and contextual perspectives. Common themes arise within, and across, particular perspectives, which suggests that a more unified view of intellectual development may emerge as boundary lines betwen perspectives and developmental periods diminish.

Books on intellectual development typically separate development into distinct developmental periods: the formation of intelligence and basic cognitive skills that occurs until adolescence, and the maintenance, decline, or improvement of these intellectual skills across the adult life span. Robert Sternberg and Cynthia Berg have integrated research on these two development periods, by bringing together authors that provide a comprehensive overview to the major approaches to intellectual development. Six approaches to intellectual development are examined by authors who use the perspective during childhood or during adulthood: psychometric, Piagetian, new-Piagetian, information-processing, learning, and contextual perspectives. Common themes arise within, and across, particular perspectives, which suggests that a more unified view of intellectual development may emerge as boundary lines betwen perspectives and developmental periods diminish.