Summary

Lifespan development with balanced research and applications; a new feature, 'Variations'; and increased emphasis on the Lifespan Perspective - all in Berk's hallmark engaging writing style. Renowned professor and scholar Laura Berk has heightened emphasis on the lifespan perspective, expanded cross-cultural and multicultural research, and strengthened links between theory, research, and applications. Along with the theme of lifelong development, the text emphasizes (1) interdisciplinary contributions to the study of development, from psychology, anthropology, sociology, education, biology, and other fields; (2) the multidimensional nature of development physical, cognitive, emotional, and social; (3) interacting contextual influences on development-biological, psychological, social, community, cultural, and historical; and (4) gender differences. *Extensively updated, with over 1500 new references introduced in this edition. *Variations, a new boxed feature highlighting wide variability in developmental pathways and timing, with the subtype Culture and Individuality, exposes readers to the many forms of diversity in human development. *Lifespan perspective tree-of-life icons appea