History

As a discipline, history centers on the study of events, ideas but also patterns of life in the past, often in contrast to present conditions. The discipline also deals with change as well as causes of change and continuities amid change; modern historians often extend this inquiry into analysis of trends that led to contemporary behaviors. Historians have interacted with other disciplines related to human development primarily through studies of family history and the history of particular age groups. But other innovations in historical research, such as emotions history, have strong implications for the field as well. This entry surveys the intersection of history with human development across the lifespan, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood and old age, and offers an overview of family ...