I. THEORY AND RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT 1. History, Theory, and Research Strategies The Field of Child Development Basic Issues Historical Foundations Mid-Twentieth-Century Theories Recent Theoretical Perspectives Comparing Child Development Theories Studying the Child II. FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT 2. Biological and Environmental Foundations Genetic Foundations Reproductive Choices Environmental Contexts for Development Understanding the Relationship Between Heredity and Environment 3. Prenatal Development Motivations for Parenthood Prenatal Development Prenatal Environmental Influences Preparing for Parenthood 4. Birth and the Newborn Baby The Stages of Childbirth Approaches to Childbirth Medical Interventions Birth Complications Precious Moments After Birth The Newborn Baby's Capacities The Transition to Parenthood III. INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD: THE FIRST TWO YEARS 5. Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood Body Growth Brain Development Influences on Early Physical Growth Learning Capacities Motor Development Perceptual Development 6. 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 7. 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 IV. EARLY CHILDHOOD: TWO TO SIX YEARS 8. Physical Development in Early Childhood Body Growth Influences on Physical Growth and Health Motor Development 9. Cognitive Development in Early Childhood Piaget's Theory: The Preoperational Stage Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory Information Processing Individual Differences in Mental Development Language Development 10. Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood Erikson's Theory: Initiative vs. Guilt Self-Understanding Emotional Development Peer Relations Foundations of Morality Gender Typing Child Rearing and Emotional and Social Development V. MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: SIX TO ELEVEN YEARS 11. Physical Development in Middle Childhood Body Growth Common Health Problems Health Education Motor Development and Play 12. Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood Piaget's Theory: The Concrete Operational Stage Information Processing Individual Differences in Mental Development Language Development Children's Learning in School 13. Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood Erikson's Theory Self-Understanding Emotional Development Understanding Others: Perspective Taking Moral Development Peer Relations Gender Typing Family Influences Some Common Problems of Development VI. ADOLESCENCE: THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD 14. Physical Development in Adolescence   Conceptions of Adolescence Puberty: The Physical Transition to Adulthood The Psychological Impact of Pubertal Events Health Issues 15. Cognitive Development in Adolescence Piaget's Theory An Information-Processing View of Adolescent Cognitive Development Consequences of Abstract Thought Sex Differences in Mental Abilities Language Development Learning in School Vocational Development 16. Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence Erikson's Theory: Identity versus Identity Confusion Self-Understanding Moral Development Gender Typing The Family Peer Relations Problems of Development At the Threshold 17. Emerging Adulthood A Period of Unprecedented Exploration Cultural Change, Cultural Variation, and Emerging Adulthood Development in Emerging Adulthood Risk and Resilience in Emerging Adulthood

 “Throughout my eight years at Crowder College, I’ve tried out different editions of books for various classes, but one book I have not altered is Berk’s Infants and Children. The information continues to strike a balance between breadth and depth, which is not an easy feat.” Nathan Gandy, Crowder College   “I really enjoyed the read. I didn't catch myself reading the same sentence more than once, like I usually do. The chapter kept me curious and willing to keep reading.” Student, Arizona State University    “Berk has made teaching and learning about infants and children a joy with her engaging writing style, pulling me and students into the text. Thank you for a great textbook.” Chance Bell, Florida State University   “I really liked the examples used to describe perceptual development. The explanations given, paired with the descriptions of the experiments used, helped me to understand the information in ways I wouldn't otherwise have been able to.” Student, University of Alabama Birmingham    “I have enthusiastically used Infants, Children, and Adolescents for over twenty years. Not only does Berk consistently include the most up-to-date research in each edition, but she presents it in a student-focused, engaging manner. As someone who has taught an extraordinarily diverse set of students in my career, I would recommend this text for any student interested in studying the dynamic process of child and adolescent development.” Michael Hall, SUNY Dutchess   “I really enjoyed the Look and Listen feature embedded in the reading itself. I find that relating information to real-life scenarios helps me not only to recall the information, but also aids in critical-thinking skills.” — Student, Kishwaukee College   “I have been using this author’s texts in several of my developmental courses for the past 15+ years ...[I] can't say enough positive words to describe my experience with her textbooks. My students have even commented on how well written the textbooks are and that they can really relate to the applications.” Amy Carrigan-Smith, University of Saint Francis   “I am most impressed with how this edition has been updated with more recent cultural information, and not just in the U.S. I also like that it is even more cross-disciplinary.” Diane Cook, University of North Georgia   “Berk provides a clear and concise text to introduce topics and make them meaningful to students.” Kristin Watson, Northwest Mississippi Community College   “Dr. Berk combines superb scholarship, powerful writing, and a keen sense of organization to produce near perfection . . . Students . . . could not ask for a more informative textbook.” Murray Krantz, Florida State University   “Berk carefully and seamlessly introduces culturally diverse research findings to create a holistic and accurate understanding of development and its many nuances.” Maggie Renken, Georgia State University   “The research is presented with a great depth of understanding, not watered down or presented superficially, as in many texts, yet is described and structured in a way that helps students construct an overall, personally relevant understanding of development during childhood.” Joan E. Test, Missouri State University   “I love the way the narrative keeps the reader’s attention and constantly motivates the information. It is not simply a catalog of facts, but a story about how children develop.” Dara Musher-Eisenman, Bowling Green State University   “No other textbook covering child development does so as thoroughly as Berk’s Infants, Children and Adolescents in terms of research reviewed and incorporated, exemplary photos, and instructor resources.” Kate Fogarty, University of Florida   “There is excellent coverage of diversity, and delicate but appropriate discussions on apparent differences between various socioeconomic groups and cultures.” Stuart Marcovitch, University of North Carolina Greensboro   “Instead of reporting cut-and-dry research findings, the chapters also include applied information relevant to everyday lives in different cultures and ethnic statuses. The colorful tables and pictures not only attract attention, but also [offer the] best illustrations.” Hiu-Chin Hsu, University of Georgia   “I find most valuable the relevance, currency and integration of research throughout the text, with an interesting and entertaining narrative that makes the research results come alive for beginning students in child development.”  Joan E. Test, Missouri State University   “Although I have been teaching Child Development for more than 40 years, I found myself learning new concepts from Dr. Berk’s insightful presentation [with] the best research literature on virtually every topic, excellent organization and sequence, and Dr. Berk’s captivating writing style.” Murray Krantz, Florida State University   “I am impressed by the “Ask yourself” sections; this is the exact way in which I try to encourage my students to approach the material, and I particularly appreciate the emphasis on evidence-based answers rather than opinions.” Janet J. Boseovski, University of North Carolina Greensboro   “I was very impressed with the attention to diversity issues.” Dara Musher-Eisenman, Bowling Green State University   “The text does an excellent job of simplifying complex cognitive phenomena in a way that makes them easy to understand. The text makes clear connections that illustrate how developmental research informs–or can inform–education and child-rearing practices.” Maggie Renken, Georgia State University    “Empirical studies and their findings are woven into the prose efficiently and with clarity. Classic theories are presented along with more cutting-edge research.” Sarah Kollat, Pennsylvania State University   “Berk’s books on child development are the quintessential texts for all serious students of child development.” Dominic Gullo, Drexel University

Thoroughly Engaging Writing Style: Berk and Meyers make the study of child development both involving and pleasurable for students. Infants, Children, and Adolescents is written in an engaging, personal style -- one that is highly accessible -- and contains real-life human-interest stories. The authors encourage students to relate what they read to their own lives. Unparalleled Breadth and Depth of Research: Meticulously researched material, including over nearly 2,000 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 humanizes the complex developmental process. Appealing and Meaningful Applications, integrated throughout the text, show students how their learning relates to real-world situations. Applications are relevant to students pursuing a variety of fields, including psychology, education, health sciences, 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 and adolescents. Exceptional Integration of Culture and Diversity: 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. Outstanding Pedagogical 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 world.

  Known for staying current, Infants, Children, and Adolescents presents the most relevant research and applications in Child Development today. Many new topics have been introduced or enhanced throughout the eighth edition, including: • Impact of poverty on development, and interventions aimed at helping children surmount developmental risks • Neighborhood influences on physical and mental health • Epigenesis, environmental influences on gene expression, including the role of methylation • Fetal sensory capacities and behavior • Brain development and experiences that enhance or undermine it • Consequences of chronic stress, including prenatal evidence and findings on institutionalized infants and young children • Intergenerational transmission of low birth weight • Role of sleep in young children’s learning and memory • Motor development as a dynamic system, with emphasis on infant crawling, walking, reaching, and grasping • Symbolic understanding in infancy and toddlerhood, including learning from TV and video • Development of executive function, including attention, inhibition, working memory, flexible thinking, planning, and self-regulation • Infantile amnesia, and factors influencing the formation of a stable, long-term memory • Deaf children of hearing parents and language development • SES variations in early vocabulary development, emergent literacy, and math knowledge and impact on later school success • Temperamentally negative, emotionally reactive children, and the power parenting to affect adjustment • Fathers’ sensitive caregiving and infant attachment security • Childhood unintentional injuries and parenting practices • Preschoolers’ natural and supernatural beliefs • Children with autism and theory of mind • High-quality child care, preschool intervention, universal pre-K, and academic and social development • Impact of screen media on children’s academic learning and emotional and social development • Sociodramatic play and early childhood social competence • Corporal punishment and children’s adjustment • Parent training programs for intervening with aggressive children • Children’s gender stereotyping through mother–child conversations and peer experiences • Childhood overweight and obesity, including contributing factors, developmental consequences, and effective interventions • Drawing and reading maps in middle childhood • The Flynn effect: massive generational gains in IQ • Child abuse and central nervous system damage • Bullying and peer victimization, including cyberbulling • Children’s racial and ethnic prejudice, and strategies for reducing prejudice • Adolescent brain development, and teenagers’ reward-seeking, emotional reactivity, and risk-taking • Adolescent early sexual activity, including contributing factors and consequences • Adolescent decision making • Gender differences in spatial and mathematical abilities, including training spatial skills • Academic achievement in adolescence and the importance of teacher and peer support • Parent–adolescent relationships and implications for development of autonomy • Adolescent Internet friendships and use of social networking sites • Moral identity in adolescence and consequences for moral behavior • Adolescent dating relationships, including influences of parenting and friendships Emerging Adulthood concluding mini-chapter thoroughly revised! • Identity development, exploring in-depth and in-breadth • Romantic relationships, including online dating • Quality of college education and post-college employment • Racial and ethnic biases in career opportunities • Civic and political commitments, with implications for emerging adults as “generation me” or “generation we” • Religion and spirituality and implications for adjustment • Factors the distinguish between flourishing and floundering in emerging adulthood • Debate over emerging adulthood as a distinct developmental period