Development Through the Lifespan: United States Edition

A best-selling text unparralled in its approach to teaching human development, Berk’s Development Through the Lifespan is relied on in classrooms worldwide for its clear, engaging writing style, exceptional cross-cultural focus, rich examples, and long-standing commitment to presenting the most up-to-date scholarship while also offering students research-based, practical applications that they can relate to their personal and professional lives.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents     PART I. THEORY AND RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Chapter 1: History, Theory, and Research Strategies Human Development as a Scientific, Applied, and Interdisciplinary Field Basic Issues The Lifespan Perspective: A Balanced Point of View Historical Foundations Mid-Twentieth-Century Theories Recent Theoretical Perspectives Comparing and Evaluating Theories Studying Development Ethics in Lifespan Research      PART II. FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT Chapter 2: Biological and Environmental Foundations Genetic Foundations Reproductive Choices Environmental Contexts for Development Understanding the Relationship Between Heredity and Environment Chapter 3: Prenatal Development, Birth, and the Newborn Baby Prenatal Development Prenatal Environmental Influences Childbirth Approaches to Childbirth Medical Interventions Preterm and Low-Birth-Weight Infants Understanding Birth Complications The Newborn Baby's Capacities Adjusting to the New Family Unit      PART III. INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD: THE FIRST TWO YEARS Chapter 4: Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood Body Growth Brain Development Influences on Early Physical Growth Learning Capacities Motor Development Perceptual Development Chapter 5: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood Piaget's Cognitive-Developmental Theory Information Processing The Social Context of Early Cognitive Development Individual Differences in Early Mental Development Language Development Chapter 6: Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood Erikson's Theory of Infant and Toddler Personality Emotional Development Temperament and Development Development of Attachment Self-Development During the First Two Years      PART IV. EARLY CHILDHOOD: TWO TO SIX YEARS Chapter 7: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Body Growth Brain Development Influences on Physical Growth and Health Motor Development COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Piaget's Theory: The Preoperational Stage Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory Information Processing Individual Differences in Mental Development Language Development Chapter 8: Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood Erikson's Theory: Initiative versus Guilt Self-Understanding Emotional Development Peer Relations Foundations of Morality Gender Typing Child Rearing and Emotional and Social Development      PART V. MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: SIX TO ELEVEN YEARS Chapter 9: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Body Growth Common Health Problems Motor Development and Play COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Piaget's Theory: The Concrete Operational Stage Information Processing Individual Differences in Mental Development Language Development Learning in School Chapter 10: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood Erikson's Theory: Industry versus Inferiority Self-Understanding Emotional Development Understanding Others: Perspective Taking Moral Development Peer Relations Gender Typing Family Influences Some Common Problems of Development      PART VI. ADOLESCENCE: THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD Chapter 11: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Conceptions of Adolescence Puberty: The Physical Transition to Adulthood The Psychological Impact of Pubertal Events Health Issues COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Piaget's Theory: The Formal Operational Stage An Information-Processing View of Adolescent Cognitive Development Consequences of Adolescent Cognitive Changes Sex Differences in Mental Abilities Learning in School Chapter 12: Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence Erikson's Theory: Identity versus Role Confusion Self-Understanding Moral Development Gender Typing The Family Peer Relations Problems of Development      PART VII. EARLY ADULTHOOD Chapter 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood A Gradual Transition: Emerging Adulthood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Biological Aging Is Under Way in Early Adulthood Physical Changes Health and Fitness COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Changes in the Structure of Thought Expertise and Creativity The College Experience Vocational Choice Chapter 14: Emotional and Social Development in Early Adulthood Erikson's Theory: Intimacy versus Isolation Other Theories of Adult Psychosocial Development Close Relationships The Family Life Cycle The Diversity of Adult Lifestyles Career Development      PART VIII. MIDDLE ADULTHOOD Chapter 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Physical Changes Health and Fitness Adapting to the Physical Challenges of Midlife COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Changes in Mental Abilities Information Processing Vocational Life and Cognitive Development Adult Learners: Becoming a College Student in Midlife Chapter 16: Emotional and Social Development in Middle Adulthood Erikson's Theory: Generativity versus Stagnation Other Theories of Psychosocial Development in Midlife Stability and Change in Self-Concept and Personality Relationships at Midlife Vocational Life      PART IX. LATE ADULTHOOD Chapter 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Life Expectancy Physical Changes Health, Fitness, and Disability COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Memory Language Processing Problem Solving Wisdom Factors Related to Cognitive Change Cognitive Interventions Lifelong Learning Chapter 18: Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood Erikson's Theory: Ego Integrity versus Despair Other Theories of Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood Stability and Change in Self-Concept and Personality Individual Differences in Psychological Well-Being A Changing Social World Relationships in Late Adulthood Retirement and Leisure Successful Aging      PART X. THE END OF LIFE Chapter 19: Death, Dying, and Bereavement How We Die Understanding of and Attitudes Toward Death Thinking and Emotions of Dying People A Place to Die The Right to Die Bereavement: Coping with the Death of a Loved One Death Education

Review :
“The Berk Lifespan text offers a sense that we are learning from someone who is both a great scholar and a very wise and experienced person.  Berk has credibility on both a professional and personal level…..It also offers a sense that my students are getting exposure to the best research and ideas available in my field.     *David Shwalb, Southeastern Louisiana University   “This is the most engaging textbook I have reviewed or used… truly remarkable in its depth, research and professional, personable and engaging writing style… This book sets a new standard of excellence.”   “I especially liked the excellent applications-implications included… far superior to nearly all other texts I am familiar with.”   *Dale Lund, University of Utah, College of Nursing   “Berk Lifespan offers exceptional coverage of the most important issues, trends, and cutting edge topics… without question, one of the most comprehensive texts available.”   “The author does an exceptional job establishing a foundation for the topical areas and continues by presenting more detailed information in the domain so to provide the reader with a comprehensive view of these developmental processes and the impact that variables have on each area.”   *Kimberly Blair, University of Pittsburgh   “The Berk book has become a sourcebook (for our students)… This past year, I also taught a course in the third and final year of the BScN program and the students are still referring to Berk to interpret and support their clinical observations.”   “The figures, diagrams, pictures, and tables are well-chosen.  The examples and illustrations are very clear.”   *Laurie Gottlieb, McGill University, Canada   “The author has done a very good job of presenting critical issues in a straightforward, understandable manner.  Students have commented on the usefulness of the text, and stated they particularly like the milestone tables, vignettes and end-of-chapter summaries.  Students have also commented that the author manages to make potentially difficult concepts easy to understand.  At the end of each term, I request feedback on the text from 4-5 students, ask them to compare the Berk text with 1 or 2 other available texts, and make a recommendation regarding the text for next year’s class.  Student’s, the past 2 years, have selected the Berk test over others for reasons outlined above, and also for paper quality, color, up-to-date photographs, overall appeal, and user-friendliness.”   *Marita Kloseck, University of Western Ontario     “The Berk textbook is excellent. It includes a large amount of practical knowledge that I will use in the future!  Extremely useful and informative.”   Anonymous student quote from Prof. Kloseck’s class   “It is clear that Dr. Berk has worked in this field for a very long time and is committed to using up to date research… I think this text does a good job of educating students on the intellectual matters of development as well as the practical matters of policy and economics.”   “I especially like the way Dr. Berk addresses policy in this text… the social issues boxes are very useful in engaging students in topics of real-life importance that go beyond the individual.”   Chapter 3 “is the best chapter on prenatal development and delivery that I have seen in a developmental textbook.  The inclusion of a variety of approaches to childbirth around the world is particularly interesting.”   *Ashley Maynard, University of Hawaii   “Great use of concrete, real-life examples of the various concepts throughout the chapter.  This is incredibly helpful for students’ learning and retention of the material.”   *Tracie Blumentritt, University of Wisconsin La Crosse   “Bravo! Boy, was I favorably impressed!  The photos are BEAUTIFUL.”   *Laura Thompson, New Mexico State University   “One of the greatest strengths of any Berk book on human development is the quality of the research the author selects for inclusion.  The timeliness and relevancy of the selected research goes a long way in enhancing the caliber of the information.  The author has created a good blend of historic, classic, contemporary, and practical research, which is appropriate for the topics covered.”   *Lanthan Camblin, University of Cincinnati   “I was very impressed with this text.”   Chapter 8 “on social and emotional development in early childhood is outstanding.  The presentation of the salient developmental issues of this period is clear and interesting.  The discussion of the factors that influence social and emotional adaptation (e.g. childrearing styles, cultural variation, etc.) illustrates the complexity of development but in a highly readable and understandable fashion.”   “The overview of a topic is well integrated with the research and case vignettes.”   *Byron, Egeland, University of Minnesota   Chapter 19 “is extraordinary. Other textbooks pay lip service to the topic (of death, dying and bereavement)” and have the “tendency to gloss over” the material.  Berk has written a phenomenal chapter… It is through, sensitive, and well written.”   Cheryl Anagnopoulos, Black Hills State University