A. This is the best answer. Development within the family is lifelong, it is constantly changing, and it is multidirectional—it sometimes improves and at other times declines due to multiple influences. Family members adjust to changing roles throughout adulthood.
B. This is not the best answer. Patterns in relationships between parents and children do not follow a unidirectional course, but are often characterized by progress and setbacks. This might be the second best answer.
C. This is not the best answer. This chapter discusses social development in relation to the family, but does not talk about the socialization process per se.
D. This is not the best answer. The basic concept of the meaning of age could be applied to one’s functional or psychological age, but meaning of age is discussed in relation to context in this chapter.
E. This is not the best answer. While context does appear to be highly influential, other aspects of development discussed above are equally so.