Robert V. Kail
Robert V. Kail is Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University. He has served as
Associate Editor for the journal "Child Development," and is currently Editor of the "Journal of
Experimental Child Psychology and the Editor of Advances in Child Development and Behavior." His research
interests are in the area of cognitive development during childhood and adolescence, and focus on the causes and
consequences of developmental change in the speed of information processing.
John C. Cavanaugh
John C. Cavanaugh, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, is President of University of West Florida. He is a fellow
of the American Psychological Association, The American Psychological Society and the Gerontological Society of
America. He has been an American Council of Education Fellow and elected President of the Adult Development and
Aging Division of the APA (Division 20). In addition, Dr. Cavanaugh was a Congressionally selected delegate to
the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. His research interests in gerontology concern family care-giving as well
as the role of beliefs in older adult's cognitive performance. He is also the co-author of ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND
AGING, 5th Edition (Thomson Wadsworth, 2006) with Fredda Blanchard-Fields.
Summary
Balanced coverage of the entire life span is just one thing that distinguishes HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A LIFE-SPAN VIEW, 6TH EDITION. With its comprehensive, succinct, and applied coverage, the text has proven its ability to capture students' interest while introducing them to the issues, forces, and outcomes that make us who we are. Robert V. Kail's expertise in childhood and adolescence, combined with John C. Cavanaugh's extensive research in gerontology, result in a book with a rich description of all life-span stages and important topics. A modified chronological approach traces development in sequential order from conception through late life, while also dedicating several chapters to key topical issues. This organization also allows the book to be relatively briefer than other texts a benefit given the enormous amount of information covered in the course.
Table of Contents
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 & Personality Development in Early Adulthood.
11. Being With Others: Forming Relationships in Young & Middle Adulthood.
12. Work and Leisure: Occupational and Life-style 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: Psycho-social, Retirement, Relationship, and Societal Issues.
16. The Final Passage: Dying and Bereavement.
