PART I – THEORY AND RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 1. History, Theory, and Research Strategies A Scientific, Applied, and Interdisciplinary Field Basic Issues The Lifespan Perspective: A Balanced Point of View Scientific Beginnings Mid-Twentieth-Century Theories Recent Theoretical Perspectives Comparing and Evaluating Theories Studying Development Ethics in Lifespan Research PART II – FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT GENETIC FOUNDATIONS 2. Genetic Reproductive Choices and Environmental Foundations Genetic Foundations Reproductive Choices Environmental Contexts for Development Understanding the Relationship Between Heredity and Environment 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 The Newborn Baby’s Capacities Adjusting to the New Family Unit PART III – INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD: THE FIRST TWO YEARS 4. Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood Body Growth Brain Development Influences on Early Physical Growth Learning Capacities Motor Development Perceptual Development 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 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 PART IV – EARLY CHILDHOOD: TWO TO SIX YEARS 7. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT A Changing Body and Brain 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 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 9. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Body Growth Health Issues 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 10. Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood Erikson’s Theory: Industry versus Inferiority Self-Understanding Emotional Development Moral Development Peer Relations Gender Typing Family Influences Some Common Problems of Development PART VI – ADOLESCENCE: THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD 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 12. Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence Erikson’s Theory: Identity versus Role Confusion Self-Understanding Moral Development The Family Peer Relations Problems of Development PART VII – EARLY ADULTHOOD 13. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early 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 14. Emotional and Social Development in Early Adulthood A Gradual Transition: Emerging 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 15. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Physical Changes Health and Fitness Adapting to the Physical Challenges of Midlife Health Issues COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Changes in Mental Abilities Information Processing Vocational Life and Cognitive Development Adult Learners: Becoming a Student in Midlife 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 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 Maintenance Change Cognitive Interventions Lifelong Learning 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 Contextual Influences on Psychological Well-Being A Changing Social World Relationships in Late Adulthood Retirement Successful Aging PART X – THE END OF LIFE 19. Death, Dying, and Bereavement How We Die 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

Berk makes the study of human development both involving and pleasurable for students. Exploring Lifespan Development is written in an engaging, personal style — one that is highly accessible — and contains real-life human-interest stories. The author encourages students to relate what they read to their own lives. Stories and vignettes of real individuals, a Berk signature feature, open each chapter and continue throughout the text to illustrate developmental principles and teach through engaging narrative. The text “teaches while it tells a story.” Meticulously researched material, including over 1,800 new reference citations, as well as the latest research and findings, reflects major changes and discoveries in the field, and is conveyed to the student in a clear, story-like fashion that humanises the complex developmental process. Integrated throughout the text, these applications show students how their learning relates to real-world situations. Applications are relevant to students pursuing a variety of fields, including psychology, education, nursing and other health professions, sociology, anthropology, family studies, and social services. The Look and Listen feature promotes active learning, asking students to observe what real individuals say and do, speak with or observe parents, teachers, or other professionals, and inquire into community programs and practices that influence children, adolescents, and adults. Applying What We Know tables provide practical real-life applications based on theory and research findings. Berk speaks directly to students, as parents or future parents and to those pursuing different careers and areas of study, such as health care, teaching, social work, or counselling. Multicultural and cross-cultural material is presented not only in the text's research and in many positive and diverse examples, but also through rich photos and figures, which enhance student interest and understanding. Cultural Influences boxes deepen the attention to culture threaded throughout the text and accentuate both multicultural and cross-cultural variations in development. These features support students’ mastery of the subject matter, inspire critical thinking, and help students engage with information on child development, applying it to the real word. Milestones tables summarise major physical, cognitive, language, emotional, and social attainments of each age period. In addition to offering an overview of change, each entry is page-referenced to provide the student with a convenient tool for review. Ask Yourself critical thinking questions have been thoroughly revised and expanded into a unique pedagogical feature. Three types of questions prompt students to think about human development in diverse ways: Connect questions help students build an image of the whole person by integrating what they have learned across age periods and domains of development. Apply questions encourage application of knowledge to controversial issues and problems faced by children, adolescents, adults, and professionals who work with them. Reflect questions personalise the study of human development by asking students to reflect on their own development, life experiences, and values. Biology and Environment boxes highlight the growing attention to the complex, bidirectional relationship between biology and environment. Cultural Influences boxes deepen the attention to culture threaded throughout the text and accentuate both multicultural and cross-cultural variations in development. Social Issues boxes discuss the impact of social conditions on children, adolescents, and adults, and emphasise the need for sensitive social and public policies to ensure their well-being. They are divided into two types: Social Issues: Health boxes address values and practices relevant to physical and menta

Known for staying current, Exploring Lifespan Development presents the most relevant research and applications in Human Development today. Many new topics have been introduced or enhanced throughout the Fourth Edition, including: Developmental systems approach, as illustrated by the lifespan perspective Developmental neuroscience, with special attention to developmental social neuroscience Contributions of schooling to development and life chances, with special attention to SES differences Epigenesis, including the role of methylation along with new examples of environmental influences on gene expression Development during the prenatal period, including brain growth, sensory capacities, and embryonic and fetal behavior Health care and other policies for parents and newborn babies, including cross-national infant mortality rates and the importance of generous parental leave Advances in brain development, with special attention to the prefrontal cortex How environmental factors, including caregiving practices and the baby’s physical surroundings, contribute to motor development Implications of infants’ capacity to analyze the speech stream for later language progress Importance of sustained high-quality child care from infancy through the preschool years for cognitive, language, literacy, and math progress at kindergarten entry Temperamental differences in susceptibility to the effects of good and poor parenting, highlighting evidence on the short 5-HTTLPR gene Contributions of fathers’ involvement in caregiving to attachment security and to children’s cognitive, emotional, and social competence Introduction to the concept of executive function, including inhibition, working memory, flexible shifting of attention, and planning, and related research spanning all age periods Educational media, including effects on cognitive development and academic learning Contributions of sociodramatic and rough-and-tumble play to young children’s emotional and social development Moral understanding in early childhood, including contributions of language, theory of mind, peer and sibling experiences, and parenting Diverse cognitive benefits of bilingualism Racial and ethnic prejudice in school-age children, including effective ways to reduce prejudice Resilience in middle childhood, including contributions of social and emotional learning interventions Adolescent brain development, with implications for adolescent risk-taking and susceptibility to peer influence Effects of media multitasking on learning, with new evidence on consequences for executive function Parent–adolescent relationships and development of autonomy, including cultural variations Teenagers’ online communication with friends, including consequences for friendship quality and social adjustment Sexual attitudes and behavior among young adults, including Internet dating, gender differences in number of lifetime partners, sex without relationship commitment on U.S. college campuses, same-sex relationships, and implications of sexual activity for life satisfaction Importance of academic engagement in college for successful transition to the labor market Forms of love, with special attention to compassionate love and contributions of commitment to lasting intimate relationships Gender variations in career development, including factors contributing to the widespread gender pay gap and to differences in career advancement Regular physical exercise and reduced mortality risk throughout adulthood, along with approaches to increasing physical activity Practical problem solving and expertise in middle adulthood Relationship of midlife generativity to psychological adjustment, including civic political, and religious engagement Cultural variations in middle-aged children caring for aging parents Impact of negative stereotypes of aging on older adults’ physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning, with special attention to stereotype threat Risk and protective factors for Alzheimer’s disease, including the role of epigenetic processes The positivity effect — older adults’ bias toward emotionally positive information — plus expanded discussion of late-life expertise in emotional self-regulation Experience Corps, illustrating the benefits of sustained and intensive volunteer service for older adults’ physical and mental health Diverse benefits of hospice care for dying patients and family members