Generally speaking, books on cognitive development either focus on internal mechanisms without giving much attention or credence to the external world, or emphasize a contextual approach without considering genetic and other biological factors. This unique volume considers influences from within and from outside the child and seeks to address how these influences interact -- both with the child and with each other -- to direct the development of children's thinking. The chapters include research on biological factors, on family and cultural influences, and on specific intervention programs that affect this development. Top researchers present a diversity of views in their up-to-date syntheses of recent anthropological, educational, medical, psychological, and sociological findings.