This text reviews the mass of information concerning the ways in which individuals and groups differ from each other. Reviews of research findings and interpretations are provided on: physical appearance, performance and health; cognitive abilities; personality; and development across the life span. Extensive treatment of foundations (historical, measurement, research methods, biological, social, and cultural) is also provided. Both normal and abnormal behaviors are considered. The book provides an interdisciplinary focus, including material from all the behavior and natural sciences, not just psychology, sociology, or biology.

This book is a brief but comprehensive survey of research, writings, and professional practices concerned with death and dying. It is interdisciplinary and eclectic--medical, psychological, religious, philosophical, artistic, demographics, bereavement, and widowhood are all considered--but with an emphasis on psychological aspects. A variety of viewpoints and research findings on topics subsumed under "thanatology" receive thorough consideration. Questions, activities, and projects at the end of each chapter enhance reflection and personalize the material.
This fourth edition features material on:
* moral issues and court cases concerned with abortion and euthanasia;
* the widespread problem of AIDS and other deadly diseases;
* the tragedies occasioned by epidemics, starvation, and war; and
* the resumption of capital punishment in many states.
The book's enhanced multicultural tone reflects the increased economic, social, and physical interdependency among the nations of the world.
Topics receiving increased attention in the fourth edition are: terror management; attitudes and practices concerning death; cross-cultural concepts of afterlife; gallows humor, out-of-body experiences; spiritualism; mass suicide; pet and romantic death; euthanasia; right to die; postbereavement depression; firearm deaths in children; children's understanding of death; child, adolescent, adult, and physician-assisted suicide; religious customs and death; confronting death; legal issues in death, dying and bereavement; death education; death music; creativity and death; longevity; broken heart phenomenon; beliefs in life after death; new definitions of death; children's acceptance of a parent's death; terminal illness; and the politics of death and dying.

This text reviews the mass of information concerning the ways in which individuals and groups differ from each other. Reviews of research findings and interpretations are provided on: physical appearance, performance and health; cognitive abilities; personality; and development across the life span. Extensive treatment of foundations (historical, measurement, research methods, biological, social, and cultural) is also provided. Both normal and abnormal behaviors are considered. The book provides an interdisciplinary focus, including material from all the behavior and natural sciences, not just psychology, sociology, or biology.

Human Development in Adulthood is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary overview of adult development in a number of areas both personal and societal, from mental and physical health, to economic and social conditions. Variables including race, gender, economic status, and political and religious affiliation are considered in the discussion of such human issues as - love and marital relations - economic concerns, including employment and living conditions - violence in its various forms, including crime and war - aging and death. The numerous illustrations, chapter summaries, and glossary will prove especially useful to students.

This fully updated, comprehensive text examines the assessment of intellectual abilities in children and adults. Chapters emphasize the rationale and techniques for measuring intellectual function in educational, clinical, and other organizational settings. The author includes detailed descriptions of the most widely used procedures for administering, scoring, and interpreting individual and group intelligence tests. This second edition features additional material on testing the handicapped, individual and group differences in mental abilities, theories and issues in the assessment of mental abilities, and new tests for measuring intelligence and related abilities.

Human Development in Adulthood is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary overview of adult development in a number of areas both personal and societal, from mental and physical health, to economic and social conditions. Variables including race, gender, economic status, and political and religious affiliation are considered in the discussion of such human issues as - love and marital relations - economic concerns, including employment and living conditions - violence in its various forms, including crime and war - aging and death. The numerous illustrations, chapter summaries, and glossary will prove especially useful to students.

This fully updated, comprehensive text examines the assessment of intellectual abilities in children and adults. Chapters emphasize the rationale and techniques for measuring intellectual function in educational, clinical, and other organizational settings. The author includes detailed descriptions of the most widely used procedures for administering, scoring, and interpreting individual and group intelligence tests. This second edition features additional material on testing the handicapped, individual and group differences in mental abilities, theories and issues in the assessment of mental abilities, and new tests for measuring intelligence and related abilities.

This book is a brief but comprehensive survey of research, writings, and professional practices concerned with death and dying. It is interdisciplinary and eclectic--medical, psychological, religious, philosophical, artistic, demographics, bereavement, and widowhood are all considered--but with an emphasis on psychological aspects. A variety of viewpoints and research findings on topics subsumed under "thanatology" receive thorough consideration. Questions, activities, and projects at the end of each chapter enhance reflection and personalize the material.
This fourth edition features material on:
* moral issues and court cases concerned with abortion and euthanasia;
* the widespread problem of AIDS and other deadly diseases;
* the tragedies occasioned by epidemics, starvation, and war; and
* the resumption of capital punishment in many states.
The book's enhanced multicultural tone reflects the increased economic, social, and physical interdependency among the nations of the world.
Topics receiving increased attention in the fourth edition are: terror management; attitudes and practices concerning death; cross-cultural concepts of afterlife; gallows humor, out-of-body experiences; spiritualism; mass suicide; pet and romantic death; euthanasia; right to die; postbereavement depression; firearm deaths in children; children's understanding of death; child, adolescent, adult, and physician-assisted suicide; religious customs and death; confronting death; legal issues in death, dying and bereavement; death education; death music; creativity and death; longevity; broken heart phenomenon; beliefs in life after death; new definitions of death; children's acceptance of a parent's death; terminal illness; and the politics of death and dying.

"I would find this book a tempting alternative to my current text for two reasons: its coverage of more recent research and theorizing? and its focus on applications of attitude measurement and survey research to a number of very important practical issues."

? RICHARD HARRIS, University of New Mexico

Attitudes have a major impact on behavior and one?s ability to manage and adapt to change while also influencing the behavior of others. This text provides a compact but comprehensive research-oriented treatment of attitudes and related psychosocial constructs (values, opinions, beliefs, and personal orientations). It focuses on the meaning, measurement, and utility of attitudes in various applied settings, such as education or the workplace. The topics explored include social and personal matters such as prejudice and discrimination, illness and disability, death and dying, poverty and unemployment, conflict and violence, schools and teachers, work and retirement, and politics, religion, and morality. The book will prove valuable to both students and professionals who find themselves involved with measuring, evaluating, and modifying attitudes.

"I would find this book a tempting alternative to my current text for two reasons: its coverage of more recent research and theorizing? and its focus on applications of attitude measurement and survey research to a number of very important practical issues."

? RICHARD HARRIS, University of New Mexico

Attitudes have a major impact on behavior and one?s ability to manage and adapt to change while also influencing the behavior of others. This text provides a compact but comprehensive research-oriented treatment of attitudes and related psychosocial constructs (values, opinions, beliefs, and personal orientations). It focuses on the meaning, measurement, and utility of attitudes in various applied settings, such as education or the workplace. The topics explored include social and personal matters such as prejudice and discrimination, illness and disability, death and dying, poverty and unemployment, conflict and violence, schools and teachers, work and retirement, and politics, religion, and morality. The book will prove valuable to both students and professionals who find themselves involved with measuring, evaluating, and modifying attitudes.

The aging process is a complex, sometimes mysterious evolution we will all experience: In this interdisciplinary text, author Lewis R. Aiken acquaints you with the elements and effects influencing people in the later stages of life. Beginning with an historical overview of gerontology, Aiken discusses both pragmatic and philosophical concerns within the field. Factors impacting the process and results of aging are carefully outlined and explicated; these address such areas as biology, psychology, sociology, economics, and politics. The interpersonal variability of the older population is stressed throughout the book, recognizing gender, ethnic, racial, and cultural differences. Each chapter concludes with a thorough review of the material covered, a series of questions and activities designed to enhance the learning experience, and a list of suggested readings that expand on the topics being discussed. Clearly written, authoritative, rich in information and integration of research material in a wide range of disciplines, Aging: An Introduction to Gerontology is valuable for undergraduate, certificate, and community college programs in gerontology as well as graduate courses in applied professional disciplines. "The book makes a contribution to the field, it is a praiseworthy effort and it has substantive merit. . . . It reveals competence, good grasp of the subject matter, and a very good integration of research material in a wide range of disciplines. The information is generally very much up to date and relevant. It constitutes the right introduction for people interested to learn about the field of gerontology. The text is lucid, clearly written, and easy to read. It is definitely well attuned to its targeted audience. It introduces technical terminology with all the proper caveats and facilitates its comprehension with a glossary." --Abraham Monk, School of Social Work, Columbia University "This is a basic textbook of human gerontology that comprehensively covers aging and the aged, with a special emphasis on the psychology of aging. The purpose is to review what is known about aging and older adulthood, the methods by which this information is obtained, and to provide practical guidelines for dealing with the problems of an aged population. The author meets these goals very well. This book is written for undergraduate and graduate students. Even geriatricians in training will find this a lucid exposition of human gerontology. This book's well-organized chapters are clearly illustrated. There are boxes that highlight concepts and a list of further readings in addition to well-cited references. At the end of each chapter, there are questions and exercises. This textbook is a welcome addition to the field. It is very well written and organized. Both teachers and students will enjoy using this textbook. Rating: 98." --Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal "Aging is rich in information and integration of research material in a wide range of disciplines and valuable for undergraduate, certificate, and community college programs in gerontology and as well graduate courses in applied professional disciplines." --Turning Pages