This comprehensive multidisciplinary text presents an empowering view of adulthood through an examination of the influences of age, gender, cohort, race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, and culture. The fourth edition of Development in Adulthood continues its commitment to being the most current, comprehensive, scholarly, and readable text on adult development and aging available. Retaining its theoretical foundations in the life-span developmental perspective and the contextual model of development as represented by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, its multidisciplinary approach presents an empowering view of adulthood through an examination of the nature and sources of diversity and the influences of age, gender, cohort, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and culture on development. This text has been thoroughly revised to strengthen and polish its pedagogy and organization, at the same time making room for the most current research and thinking in the field and expanded treatment of emerging hot topics. Students will find this topically organized text both an engaging and accessible introduction to the challenges and opportunities of adult life.