Cover: Experiencing the Lifespan, 7th Edition by Janet Belsky; Vanessa Rainey

Experiencing the Lifespan

Seventh Edition  ©2027 Janet Belsky; Vanessa Rainey Formats: Achieve, Read & Practice, E-book, Print

Authors

  • Headshot of Janet Belsky

    Janet Belsky

    Born in New York City, Janet Belsky always wanted to be a writer but was also very interested in people. After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, she deferred to her more practical and people-loving side and earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Chicago. Janet spent her thirties in New York City teaching at Lehman College, CUNY, and doing clinical work in hospitals and nursing homes. During this time, she wrote one trade book, Here Tomorrow: Making the Most of Life After 50, got married, adopted a child, and, with the publication of the first undergraduate textbook in the psychology of aging, began what turned into a lifelong developmental science textbook writing career. In 1991, Janet moved to Tennessee with her family to write and teach undergraduate courses in psychology at Middle Tennessee State University. After her husband died in 2012, Janet moved to Chicago and developed new passions: enrolling in the Master’s Program in Liberal Arts at the University of Chicago, volunteering to teach older adults. Still, she remains committed to her enduring mission—exciting readers in the marvelous human lifespan through writing Experiencing the Lifespan.

  • Headshot of Vanessa Rainey

    Vanessa Rainey

    Vanessa Rainey grew up in a small town in Illinois and was the first in her family to attend college. She has long been fascinated by what makes people “tick.” Why are some children shy while others are bold? Why do people raised in similar circumstances sometimes turn out so differently? These questions guided her journey, eventually leading her to earn a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Loyola University Chicago. While in graduate school, Vanessa discovered that her curiosity about human development was matched by an equally strong passion for teaching. She found joy in breaking down complex research into accessible messages for students and quickly realized that the classroom was where she felt most at home. In 2014, Vanessa joined the psychology department at the University of West Florida, where she teaches and continues to explore and research how students learn best. She regularly presents at teaching conferences and is always exploring new ways to get students excited about developmental psychology. Vanessa’s excitement about making developmental science engaging and relatable is what drew her to Janet and Experiencing the Lifespan! Through this seventh edition, she hopes to help readers develop an appreciation for and curiosity about the many paths human lives – both their own and others – can take.

Table of Contents

PART I THE FOUNDATION

Chapter 1 The People and the Field

Chapter 2 Prenatal Development, Pregnancy, and Birth

PART II INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD

Chapter 3 Physical and Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers

Chapter 4 Emotional and Social Development in Infants and Toddlers

PART III CHILDHOOD

Chapter 5 Early Childhood

Chapter 6 Middle Childhood

Chapter 7 Settings for Development: Home, School, and Community

PART IV ADOLESCENCE

Chapter 8 Physical Development in Adolescents

Chapter 9 Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development in Adolescents

PART V EARLY AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

Chapter 10 Constructing an Adult Life

Chapter 11 Social Development: Relationships and Roles

Chapter 12 Midlife

PART VI LATER LIFE

Chapter 13 Later Life: Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development

Chapter 14 The Physical Challenges of Old Age

PART VII ENDINGS

Chapter 15 Death and Dying

Final Thoughts

Product Updates

  • New! Staying Well feature empowers students to apply developmental science to their own lives, helping them actively improve their physical and mental health through practical, evidence-based strategies.
  • Fully updated with the latest research across the lifespan, including new insights into infant temperament, ADHD and ASD in childhood, adolescent anxiety, menopause in midlife, and major neurocognitive conditions in older adulthood—ensuring students engage with the most current science in the field.
  • A strong, integrated focus on wellness connects theory to real-world outcomes, showing students what wellness truly means and how developmental psychology can help them build healthier habits now and across their lives.
  • Timely coverage of social media and the digital revolution prepares students for today’s challenges, equipping them to manage divided attention, reduce technoference, and make more intentional choices about online and offline engagement.

Authors

  • Headshot of Janet Belsky

    Janet Belsky

    Born in New York City, Janet Belsky always wanted to be a writer but was also very interested in people. After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, she deferred to her more practical and people-loving side and earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Chicago. Janet spent her thirties in New York City teaching at Lehman College, CUNY, and doing clinical work in hospitals and nursing homes. During this time, she wrote one trade book, Here Tomorrow: Making the Most of Life After 50, got married, adopted a child, and, with the publication of the first undergraduate textbook in the psychology of aging, began what turned into a lifelong developmental science textbook writing career. In 1991, Janet moved to Tennessee with her family to write and teach undergraduate courses in psychology at Middle Tennessee State University. After her husband died in 2012, Janet moved to Chicago and developed new passions: enrolling in the Master’s Program in Liberal Arts at the University of Chicago, volunteering to teach older adults. Still, she remains committed to her enduring mission—exciting readers in the marvelous human lifespan through writing Experiencing the Lifespan.

  • Headshot of Vanessa Rainey

    Vanessa Rainey

    Vanessa Rainey grew up in a small town in Illinois and was the first in her family to attend college. She has long been fascinated by what makes people “tick.” Why are some children shy while others are bold? Why do people raised in similar circumstances sometimes turn out so differently? These questions guided her journey, eventually leading her to earn a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Loyola University Chicago. While in graduate school, Vanessa discovered that her curiosity about human development was matched by an equally strong passion for teaching. She found joy in breaking down complex research into accessible messages for students and quickly realized that the classroom was where she felt most at home. In 2014, Vanessa joined the psychology department at the University of West Florida, where she teaches and continues to explore and research how students learn best. She regularly presents at teaching conferences and is always exploring new ways to get students excited about developmental psychology. Vanessa’s excitement about making developmental science engaging and relatable is what drew her to Janet and Experiencing the Lifespan! Through this seventh edition, she hopes to help readers develop an appreciation for and curiosity about the many paths human lives – both their own and others – can take.

Table of Contents

PART I THE FOUNDATION

Chapter 1 The People and the Field

Chapter 2 Prenatal Development, Pregnancy, and Birth

PART II INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD

Chapter 3 Physical and Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers

Chapter 4 Emotional and Social Development in Infants and Toddlers

PART III CHILDHOOD

Chapter 5 Early Childhood

Chapter 6 Middle Childhood

Chapter 7 Settings for Development: Home, School, and Community

PART IV ADOLESCENCE

Chapter 8 Physical Development in Adolescents

Chapter 9 Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development in Adolescents

PART V EARLY AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

Chapter 10 Constructing an Adult Life

Chapter 11 Social Development: Relationships and Roles

Chapter 12 Midlife

PART VI LATER LIFE

Chapter 13 Later Life: Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development

Chapter 14 The Physical Challenges of Old Age

PART VII ENDINGS

Chapter 15 Death and Dying

Final Thoughts

Product Updates

  • New! Staying Well feature empowers students to apply developmental science to their own lives, helping them actively improve their physical and mental health through practical, evidence-based strategies.
  • Fully updated with the latest research across the lifespan, including new insights into infant temperament, ADHD and ASD in childhood, adolescent anxiety, menopause in midlife, and major neurocognitive conditions in older adulthood—ensuring students engage with the most current science in the field.
  • A strong, integrated focus on wellness connects theory to real-world outcomes, showing students what wellness truly means and how developmental psychology can help them build healthier habits now and across their lives.
  • Timely coverage of social media and the digital revolution prepares students for today’s challenges, equipping them to manage divided attention, reduce technoference, and make more intentional choices about online and offline engagement.

An award-winning text. An amazing journey. Now more engaging than ever.

Together with new co-author Vanessa Rainey (University of West Florida), Janet Belsky introduces students to human development through engaging storytelling, global perspectives, and research-based insights from developmental psychology. Written in a clear, conversational style, Experiencing the Lifespan helps students connect developmental science concepts to real-world experiences across cultures and stages of life.

The new edition features updated research, engaging examples from around the world, and student-centered pedagogy designed for a one-term developmental psychology course. The text helps students build a deeper understanding of topics across the life span while keeping complex concepts accessible and relevant.

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We’re reimagining how psychology is taught and learned—focusing on the skills students need to succeed. Achieve combines engaging content with AI-powered tools to help students apply psychological concepts, and build habits that last beyond the course.

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  • Short-Form Writing Tool with rubric-aligned prompts and auto-scoring feedback
  • Developing Lives 2.1 An updated parenting simulation where student choices— from family structure, prenatal care, schooling, parenting style, and more—directly shape a child’s development with assignable quizzes

Each activity is designed to build skills, increase engagement, and support student success.

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Janet Belsky; Vanessa Rainey | Seventh Edition | ©2027 | ISBN:9781319629052

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