Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology by Mitchell, Peter; Ziegler, Fenja; Rose, Sarah;

Short description:

Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology returns in its third edition, offering a updated and enriched exploration of developmental psychology. This version reflects the latest discoveries and evolving perspectives, while maintaining the clarity, and engaging style that made it a favourite among students and instructors.

Long description:

Nearly 20 years after the first edition captivated readers, Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology returns in its third edition, offering a thoroughly updated and enriched exploration of developmental psychology. Building on the success of previous editions, this new version reflects the latest discoveries and evolving perspectives in the field, while maintaining the clarity, accessibility, and engaging style that have made it a favourite among students and instructors alike.

New chapters on ‘Prenatal Development,’ ‘Development in Adolescence,’ and ‘Development of Self’ expand the book’s scope, while integrated examples of atypical development and global perspectives reflect the diversity of developmental trajectories and the growing emphasis on decolonizing the curriculum. The book continues to balance cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, while emphasizing the importance of theory in explaining developmental changes, going beyond mere description to uncover the mechanisms that drive growth and change. Designed with pedagogy at its core, this edition is packed with features to support learning and engagement. Bolded key terms, chapter aims, stop and think boxes, chapter summaries, example essay questions, and further reading are included to support learning and engagement, alongside a complete glossary for clarity.

Perfect for introductory courses, this third edition provides a comprehensive yet concise introduction to developmental psychology. With its engaging content, full-colour illustrations, and student-friendly organisation, it inspires curiosity and critical thinking while equipping readers with the tools to explore the complexities of developmental psychology and the fascinating journey of human growth and change.

Accompanied by support materials, instructors can access lecture slides summarising key content with diagrams from the book, a test bank of multiple-choice questions for assessment, and an online glossary for easy download. A letter to instructors also provides guidance on using the text and highlights major updates from the previous edition.

Praise for the Previous Edition:

“Whilst certain to become the standard text for many introductory and foundation courses in developmental psychology, it will also have a much broader appeal to professionals in health, education and social work. Throughout the book the authors develop their arguments utilizing a clever balance of classic texts and new research evidence to guide the reader through the big issues in developmental psychology. Their excellent style draws you in and makes learning fun."

David Coghill, University of Dundee, UK

"This is an excellent introduction to the field of developmental psychology. I especially liked its coverage of developmental disorders, including ADHD, autism, SLI, and Williams Syndrome."

Robert Siegler, Carnegie Mellon University, USA

"An engaging introduction to the field of child development, current knowledge in the area, and the historical figures who brought us there. The addition of new chapters has added to the value of the book by introducing a greater discussion of scientific methodology, and by addressing developmental disorders."

Karen Turner, University of Queensland, Australia

"This book covers all the basic topics one would expect in an introductory textbook of this sort. The authors are clearly experts in the field – their discussion of theory and methodology is detailed and appropriate, and the literature referenced is current. The book also contains chapters on specific topics that I have not seen in other textbooks, and I think the additions and revisions to this new edition have strengthened the book considerably. The result is a clear, thorough, and engaging introduction to the key ideas and methods of developmental psychology."

David Peebles, University of Huddersfield, UK

Table of Contents:

Foreword  1. Themes and Perspectives in Developmental Psychology  2. Prenatal development: focusing on environmental influences  3. Early Socialisation and Emotional Development: The Role of Caregivers  4. Developing an Ability to See the World  5. The Development of Communication and Language Skills  6. The Development of Thinking: Piaget and His Legacy  7. Numerical Development  8. What Children Understand About the Mind  9. Development of Self  10. The Role of Heredity and Environment in Intelligence  11. Developmental Conditions  12. Children’s Drawing and Understanding of Picture  13. Moral Development  14. Development Aggression  15. Navigating the changes in adolescence   Glossary  Index