The volumes that make up "The Course of Life" series represent original contributions from international scientists and clinicians who have produced much current knowledge about the phases of human personality development. The chapters in Volume III discuss adulthood from various perspectives. Contributions cover the continuum of human development from the prenatal phase through old age. Dimensions of normal development as well as the emergence of adaptive and pathologic propensities are discussed for each developmental phase. Topics of some of the papers include the midlife crisis, the nature of adulthood, psychoanalysis and the environment, and pathological conditions such as neurosis, narcissism, psychosis, manic-depressive illness, borderline personality organization, and schizophrenia. Other discussions focus on developmental aspects of aging and appropriate therapeutic approaches to the problems of the elderly. (Author/RH)