In considering choices, think about your needs, now and in the future. How can you remain socially engaged and not isolated? What can you afford? What about health issues over time? What activities are important to you? What things do you value the most?

Collaborating on a scientific endeavor can take extra time, work, and intention to ensure that the collaboration is fruitful. However, it also comes with many benefits, such as the building of professional relationships. There are several best practices that can help increase the likelihood that a collaboration will be successful. These include taking time at the beginning of the collaboration to plan how the team will work together. Teams that are characterized by trust, open communication, and shared goals and expectations, among other qualities, are more likely to be successful. Different forms of interdisciplinary research move researchers from a focus on one’s own discipline to increasing integration across other disciplines. Despite the challenges that come with interdisciplinary research, such as navigating differences in discipline-specific practices, such a collaboration can provide the capacity to address scientific problems that are too big for one discipline.

We present an overview of the role, benefits, and drawbacks of theory in scientific research, particularly in the social and behavioral sciences. We discuss what theory is and what it is not. We also focus on some key elements of theory such as its ability to explain phenomena at multiple parallel levels of analysis. Evolutionary theory is offered as an example that illustrates the importance of conceptual integration across different disciplines. We further describe the key characteristics of good theories, such as parsimony, depth, breadth, and coherence (both internal and external), and we encourage the use of “coherence stress-tests” to help refine theory. We then discuss 4 advantages and 10 disadvantages of using theory in social and behavioral science research. Finally, we suggest conceptual tools and provide a list of recommendations for theory-driven research. We hope this chapter will help in the complex pursuit of improving research practices in the social and behavioral sciences.

In this chapter, we review existing literature on the development of prosociality throughout the lifespan by highlighting the different factors/motives underlying individuals’ prosocial actions and their beneficial effects across time. First, we define the concept of prosociality and discuss the main theoretical issues related to its study from a lifespan perspective. Next, we review key empirical findings on prosociality by considering three main developmental phases (infancy and childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, adulthood and older adults) and we underline how an analysis of the main motives/factors operating in each phase can help explain the variability in prosocial development. Based on our review, we also offer some guidelines for the design of intervention actions that are developmentally appropriate and meaningful for the targeted age groups. Finally, we conclude by identifying potential gaps in the literature and we indicate promising directions for future studies.

Death is a normal part of life. Grief is a normal part of life. Consider it a privilege to grieve—it means you have loved well. Grief will hit you in waves. It is normal for this to last for months. Chapter answers four important questions: 1. What is normal grief? 2. When should I worry about my symptoms? 3. How long will grief last? 4. How can I prepare for the loss of someone with a life-limiting illness? We can continue to feel grief even after we have completely recovered from the loss. Most importantly, don’t go through your grief alone.

The research methods we use to assess prosociality in young children are the ultimate arbiter for our understanding of prosocial development. The theoretical conclusions we base on empirical data are nested, if not entirely rooted, in the ways in which we measure and statistically model children’s prosociality. This chapter focuses on early ontogeny and systematizes the landscape of research methodologies currently used to study prosocial development. It offers a critical reflection on some of the methodological and statistical constraints under which current research on prosocial development is being conducted. The chapter closes by arguing that new technological advances have paved the way for a more inclusive and systematic study of prosociality in the early years of development. Embracing these ongoing efforts will require a new kind of discussion about the ways in which we statistically model development and how we draw inferences about “significant” effects in early ontogeny.

Successful retirement requires proper planning through the decades, starting in your 20s and continuing through your 70s. The key to saving enough for retirement is to invest as much as possible, as early as possible. The bottom line is this: you must create an investment strategy where you literally do not run out of money before you die. Future financial freedom is dependent on the exercise of current financial discipline. By creating realistic budgets, adequately funding savings and retirement accounts, following wise investment strategies, and reacting appropriately to economic and market conditions, you have the best chance to fund and enjoy a future that meets your needs and goals. Chapter describes important financial planning through the decades of life, 20s, 30s,40s, 50s, 60s, 70s,80s, 90s, and 100s.

Prosocial development is considered foundational for youth civic engagement, yet associations between these two developmental domains is more complex and dynamic than typically recognized. This chapter examines theory and evidence linking prosociality and two main dimensions of civic engagement: civic helping and political engagement. Most research separately examines helping versus political engagement, given that different correlates and developmental processes are often evident. Positive youth development theory posits that adolescents’ caring and connections lead to civic contributions, and evidence lends support for bidirectional associations between civic helping and prosocial competencies. Youth political engagement is not as commonly studied in relation to prosocial development, but empathy combined with critical social analysis may support socially just political attitudes and actions, whereas other political attitudes are rooted in exclusion and inequality and antithetical to prosociality. Implications for theory, future research, and practice are also discussed.

Working in applied settings presents unique challenges and complexities with respect to research. Researchers have often commented on the scientist–practitioner divide, but there is a lack of information about the specific challenges and constraints of doing applied work that may contribute to this divide. As a group of applied social and behavioral scientists, we discuss what individuals should know, understand, and expect regarding the work practitioners conduct in applied settings. We describe the challenges of applied work as they relate to some topics covered earlier in this volume and identify other unique aspects of applied work. We conclude by discussing how an individual can approach deciding whether applied work is a fit with one’s interests.

Broad constructs of positive parenting (e.g., sensitivity, warmth) have been shown to contribute to children’s prosociality across a variety of ages and cultures. However, because both prosociality and parent-child relationships are complex, multifaceted constructs, a more fine-grained analysis is needed in order to understand the different pathways by which parents can facilitate children’s prosocial development. This chapter offers such an analysis, by reviewing work on how distinct features, or domains, of parenting can promote different motivations and skills that support prosocial action. Bidirectional effects and cultural influences are also considered, and implications for research and practice are outlined.

Siblings are often overlooked as a source of social influence. Addressing this gap, we review findings from studies spanning the transition to siblinghood through adolescence. We have identified four features of sibling relationships that help explain siblings’ powerful influence on children’s prosocial behavior: sibling relationships are (1) emotionally unfettered; (2) diagonal, especially in the early years; (3) familiar; and (4) long-lasting. Research is framed by several distinct theoretical perspectives, including attachment theory, ethology, family systems theory, and cognitive accounts of theory of mind development. Sibling influences also take many forms that vary in salience across the different aspects of prosocial behavior and distinct developmental periods. Over time, sibling influences show both stability and change, but appear independent from parental influences – although evidence is scarce for some groups. Finally, we discuss future directions, as well as conclusions regarding the nature, motivation, and impact of sibling influences on prosocial behavior.

What is the ideal way to build strong bones? When young, run, jump, play. Drink milk. When adults, get a healthy quantity of calcium and vitamin D. Six important actions for building strong bones explained. Exercise, Vitamin D. Calcium. Limit alcohol and tobacco. For women, when 65, get bone density test to check for osteoporosis. Prevent falls. Check medications. Falls are the number one injury-related cause of fatality for people over 65. Tai chi can reduce the risk of falls by 60%!

The critical role of effortful control (EC) in promoting prosocial development has been consistently supported in correlation studies. Yet it remains unclear whether promoting EC can be an intermediate target through which psychological interventions promote prosocial tendencies in youth. This review focuses on how to translate basic developmental research on family influences on children’s EC into family-focused interventions. First, we review key features of family socialization associated with children’s EC. Second, we conduct a qualitative review of randomized controlled studies of family-focused interventions that have examined EC as an outcome or mediator. We review key components and formats of these interventions and their efficacy in improving EC and related youth outcomes. We also review family-focused interventions for promoting children’s prosocial tendencies. In summary, our review finds some evidence for the efficacy of family-focused interventions in improving children’s EC. Limitations of existing interventions and future directions are also discussed.

Retirement, for some, can be one of the biggest risk factors for death. Deficits of retirement include short-term memory declines. Worsening in mobility. Increase in chronic medical conditions and mental health problems. Studies document that retirees are 40% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who don’t retire. There is need to change the culture around work to consciously adapt to needs and desires of older workers. Rename retirement “repurposing.” Rather than retirement, find a repurposed career that recognizes our need for autonomy, mastery and purpose as we age. Research shows when real-life companies have made adjustments (shorter work days; environmental changes to relieve arthritis pain or low vision) for older workers, the overall productivity of the company increases!. Need to prepare for retirement when you are still young. Live for something that matters. Build new social relationships. Make play part of life. Studies show that retiring can improve health but only if post-retirement activities are purposeful, stimulating, and active.