ESSENTIALS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A LIFE-SPAN VIEW, 2nd Edition fills the need for a shorter text that emphasizes the essential, defining features of modern research and theory in human development. Using a chronological approach modified to provide topical treatment to key topics and emphasizing the biopsychosocial framework, the text provides: a readable account of human development across the life span; conceptual foundations that enable students to become critical interpreters of developmental information; and an introduction to relevant research and its application to key issues. The text also emphasizes the application of human development research across diverse professional settings, making it ideal for students who are pursuing a career related to psychology or areas such as education, health, and human sciences. Succinct and filled with real-life examples, this text will capture your students' interest while introducing them to the essential issues, forces, and outcomes that make us who we are.

1. The Study of Human Development.
Part I: PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT, INFANCY, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.
2. Biological Foundations: Heredity, Prenatal Development, and Birth.
3. Tools for Exploring the World: Physical, Perceptual, and Motor Development in Infancy and Early Childhood.
4. The Emergence of Thought and Language: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Early Childhood.
5. Entering the Social World: Socioemotional Development in Infancy and Early Childhood.
Part II: SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
6. Off to School: Cognitive and Physical Development in Middle Childhood.
7. Expanding Social Horizons: Socioemotional Development in Middle Childhood.
8. Rites of Passage: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence.
9. Moving into the Adult Social World: Socioemotional Development in Adolescence.
Part III: YOUNG AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD.
10. Becoming an Adult: Physical, Cognitive, and Personality Development in Young Adulthood.
11. Being With Others: Forming Relationships in Young and Middle Adulthood.
12. Work: Occupational and Lifestyle Issues in Young and Middle Adulthood.
13. Making It in Midlife: The Unique Challenges of Middle Adulthood.
Part IV: LATE ADULTHOOD.
14. The Personal Context of Later Life: Physical, Cognitive, and Mental Health Issues.
15. Social Aspects of Later Life: Psychosocial, Retirement, Relationship, and Societal Issues.
16. The Final Passage: Dying and Bereavement.

ESSENTIALS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A LIFE-SPAN VIEW, 2nd Edition fills the need for a shorter text that emphasizes the essential, defining features of modern research and theory in human development. Using a chronological approach modified to provide topical treatment to key topics and emphasizing the biopsychosocial framework, the text provides: a readable account of human development across the life span; conceptual foundations that enable students to become critical interpreters of developmental information; and an introduction to relevant research and its application to key issues. The text also emphasizes the application of human development research across diverse professional settings, making it ideal for students who are pursuing a career related to psychology or areas such as education, health, and human sciences. Succinct and filled with real-life examples, this text will capture your students' interest while introducing them to the essential issues, forces, and outcomes that make us who we are. New, expanded, or significantly revised topics in Part I, "Prenatal Development, Infancy, and Early Childhood," include molecular genetics (Ch. 2); infants' face perception and development of theory of mind (Ch. 3); young children's understanding of robots, ways to help young children pay attention more effectively, the impact of parents' speech on language learning (Ch. 4); children's play with pets, the influence of oxytocin on helping, and gender differences in memory and effortful control (Ch. 5). New material in Part II, "School Age-Children and Adolescents," discusses gifted children and children with ADHD (Ch. 6); spanking, genetic influences on parenting, prejudice, the influence of computers (Ch. 7); the impact of pubertal timing and the factors that contribute to obesity (Ch. 8); and dating violence (Ch. 9). Part III, "Young and Middle Adulthood," and Part IV, "Late Adulthood," include up-to-date discussions of online dating, the hookup culture, same-sex marriage, parenting (Ch. 11); Sheryl Sandberg's concept of women "leaning in," occupational expectations (Ch. 12); mindfulness-based stress reduction (Ch. 13); chronic diseases such as diabetes, genetics and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (Ch. 14); the death with dignity debate, and new ways of diagnosing persistent vegetative state (Ch. 16). New topics in the Spotlight on Research feature, which highlights studies related to text discussions, include the stability of intelligence from childhood to late life (Ch. 1); links between maternal depression and children's behavior (Ch. 2); infants' grasping (Ch. 3); children's perceptions as to whether behavioral and physical properties of boys and girls are inherent and stable (Ch. 5); ways to make tests less threatening (Ch. 6); programs for preventing eating disorders (Ch. 8); whether prevention programs prevent dating abuse (Ch. 9); and the costs of holding in grief (Ch. 15). A new Real People feature in Chapter 16 spotlights Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old who ended her life through physician-assisted suicide in Oregon in late 2014. This feature provides an opportunity to discuss the right to die movement and the ethical issues involved. The text follows a chronological approach, with coverage that is evenly divided among adolescence, adulthood, and aging to provide a richer and more complete description of human development. The text periodically provides topical treatment for key topics. It text also adopts the biopsychosocial framework to organize and tie themes together. Features include Linking Research to Life boxes that show how findings from research can be used to improve human development throughout the life span; Spotlight on Research boxes that help students understand the science and scope of life-span development; Real People: Applying Human Development boxes that illustrate how a development issue is manifested in the life of a real person; and Human Development in Action features, which encourage students to imagine themselves in a specific professional setting and apply knowledge of human development to a specific problem. Learning Objectives, followed by brief vignettes, open the major sections in each chapter. Each major section is numbered for easy assignment and concludes with concept-reinforcing Test Yourself sections (with answers provided upside down for immediate feedback). Summaries are organized around the Learning Objectives, reinforcing key concepts. Up-to-date findings and references introduce students to the perspectives of those who are currently shaping the field and those who pioneered it. The inclusion of many diversity examples makes the material appealing to the broadest possible range of students. In addition, a diversity and neuroscience index precedes Chapter 1.