title: Pathways from childhood to adult life.
abstract: Principles and concepts of development are reviewed in relation to life-span issues noting the need to consider: development in its social context; timing of experiences; intrinsic and experiential factors; continuities and discontinuities; parallels and differences between normal and abnormal development; heterotypic and homotypic continuities; key life transitions; risk and protective factors; indirect chain affects; mediating mechanisms; age as an index of maturational and experiential factors. Developmental findings from childhood to adult longitudinal studies are reviewed for possible mediating factors. These include: genetic mechanisms; the (non-genetic) biological substrate; shaping of the environment; cognitive and social skills; self-esteem and self-efficacy; habits, cognitive sets and coping styles; links between experiences.
authors.affiliation: MRC Child Psychiatry Unit, University of London, U.K.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D012931:Social Environment