Development Through the Lifespan in Action: Observation Video and Guide for Development Through the Lifespan

by Laura E. Berk

A best-selling text unparalleled in its approach to teaching human development, Berk's Development Through the Lifespan is relied upon 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.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, School, Textbooks, Education, Science, Health

Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because if I read an almost 900-page textbook, you better believe I'm going to have it count toward my 2015 Book Challenge.

[Theresa Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my textbook for my Lifespan Developmental Psychology class, the one Psych class I avoided like the plague when I was in college the first time around. So I didn't like the class in the first place. The book is good at sectioning information out in a good way and the book is not an overcomplicated book to read or comprehend.

The dropping of two whole stars comes from the far left wing bent of the author(s). In every stage of development, problems with social issues were constantly blamed on the lack of government providing for it. If it had something to do with low socioeconomic status (low SES), it was all the fault of poverty, bad housing, lack of health insurance, lack of government resources and so on. There is absolutely nowhere in this textbook where adolescents, adults and elders are responsible for their own fates.

However, if the author made her comparisons to other countries, other first world countries were better than America because their governments had their citizens on the government breast.

Also in this book, parents were never supposed to say "no" to their child. So I was pissed as I read every single chapter in this textbook.

However, I still received an "A" in my class. I'd really like to set this book on FIRE now that I'm finished with it.

[Reba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Berk, renowned professor and researcher, places an emphasis on the interplay between heredity and environment, and focuses on many social policy issues, while emphasizing the lifespan perspective throughout. The latest theories and findings in the field are made accessible in a relevant way. The author's storytelling style invites students to actively learn. Readers are provided with an especially clear understanding of the sequence and underlying processes of human development, emphasizing the interrelatedness of all domains—physical, cognitive, emotional, social—throughout the text narrative and in special features.

Berk also helps the reader to connect their learning to their personal and professional areas of interest. The author speaks directly about issues students will face in their future pursuits as parents, educators, health care providers, social workers, and researchers. Students are called to intelligently approach the responsibility of understanding and responding to the needs and concerns of both young and old.
This book really focuses on positive outcomes for people of all ages. As a future nursing student I will be applying and reviewing many of the text's main concepts.

[Jessica Gonzalez]

It wasn't very interesting. I had to get the book for one of my classes. It is a good text book, but not something I would read for fun. It would be nice if the definitions where at the end of the chapter in an list that defines them.

[Mahdi Dehzadeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

میتونی گذشته و حال و آینده احتمالیت و تو این کتاب بخونی و ممکنه باعث بشه بخوای تغییراتی تو آینده ات ایجاد کنی!

[Michael Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took two classes in developmental psych and this was the textbook for both. I now feel it's an indispensable guide for adaptive functioning through the lifespan - emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively. It covers prenatal to death. I am grateful such a thorough account of up-to-date research on what it means to be a modern human is available. (I read the latest edition [2014], which was fantastically designed, but this edition was the only one on goodreads I could find.)

[Yiting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 2-4 years old part of this book. (and probably not any other parts until my daughter reach 5 year old). For the parts I read, I found it interesting and practical. I use it as a guidance on parenting.

[Mackenzie Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read, does a good job of breaking down different developmental theories. Enjoyed the real life examples.

[Melina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and comprehensive

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though an excellent textbook of human development the bias and activism were strongly apparent.

[Jennifer Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this textbook because I undertook an undergraduate university course called 'developmental psychology'. I enjoyed the textbook and found the highlighting of definitions and the summaries at the end of chapters really helpful for studying.

The main downside was that it was USA centric which is understandable being an American textbook but it does mean that some information is less useful for someone living in Australia. This happens a lot though as we often use American textbooks in Australian university courses (at least in my experience doing both biomedical science and psychology)

I read the 7th edition. As is the case with how most textbooks are used I have not read literally every word but instead the majority.

[Tarannom · Rating 3 out of 5]

ترجمه سید محمدی خیلی روانه ولی. گاهی اشنا شدن با اخلاقیات یک فرد نگاه انسان رو. نسبت به اثارش هم دستخوش تغییر می کنه ، ولي در کل ترجمه ایشون رو وفتی مقایسه می کنم با اثار ترجمه شده توسط مهدی گنجی. ،کاستی های قابل توجهی رو می بینم در کل ترجیح میدم. کتب ترجمه مهدی گنجی رو مطالعه کنم چون ایشون با اوردن. اصل کلمات در ترجمه. متن ، به شعور مخاطب احترام می ذاره و اون رو هم فعالانه در گیر ترجمه می کنه ّ.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken outside the context of the absolutely miserable graduate class it went with, I kind of enjoyed this. Much learning happened and I really soaked up the various pieces of how we grow, develop, and change throughout life.

[Vedrana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Systematic and easy to read with useful examples that make the theory relatable. On the other note, pretty depressing but that's just something I will have to deal with in the next stage of my development. :)

[Rozan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was part of my developmental psychology graduate degree program and it is definitely a massive read! It goes through all comprehensive details if development and would totally be an excellent reference.

[Paige Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative, and interesting. It’s a very thick read.

[Kayla Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

For psych210, 7th edition.

[Belle Meade School]

155

[Sam Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

you know what i actually read this whole a$$ thing AND i liked it

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Biases. Boring. Had to read for school.

[Helen Guo · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book

[Hasti · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب لورا برک یکی از بهترین کتاب های روانشناسی رشد؛ کامل و روان.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another "for school" book for this last course, and it has really good information about how we develop from conception till old age. I enjoyed learning from this one.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

My class textbook. According to the syllabus, I will finish reading this one on May 13th.


Update:

As I expected, we did not end up reading this entire book. I had never read an entire textbook for a class so I was skeptical of the syllabus.

My only comment is that this has way too many exclamation points for what should be considered didactic reading. I chose to interpret this as patronizing to undergrads.

Also, I am not officially done with this book since my exam is Tuesday, so I will still be using it for studying.

[Michaela Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contained a lot of quality information regarding the nature of psychological and physical development from prenatal through death. I appreciated this class text and would recommend it as a purchase for MFT's.

[Nathan Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't finish the entire book. Read through parts that were relevant to a class on child development theory and spiritual formation. What I read was beneficial and enlightening to my understanding of the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth of humans.

[Candice Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book that explains the process of development from prenatal to death. Throughout the book there was a great use of real life situations and experiences, charts and tables to better explain the information being provided.

[Chole Allyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was helpful for when I was studying this subject. It is not a book that I would read from cover to cover.

[Clinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good practical, non opinion info for the parent. It is a textbook so it's not light, but I've found it refreshing compared to the glut of opinion parenting books out there.

[Cherene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of info about lifespan development! Easy to read, but a lot of text.