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
