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Cover: Invitation to the Life Span, 6th Edition by Kathleen Stassen Berger

Invitation to the Life Span

Sixth Edition  ©2025 Kathleen Stassen Berger Formats: Achieve, Read & Practice, E-book, Print

Authors

  • Headshot of Kathleen Stassen Berger

    Kathleen Stassen Berger

    Kathleen Stassen Berger received her undergraduate education at Stanford University and Radcliffe College, earned an M.A.T. from Harvard University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Yeshiva University. Her broad experience as an educator includes directing a preschool, serving as chair of philosophy at the United Nations International School, teaching child and adolescent development to graduate students at Fordham University and undergraduates at Montclair State University in New Jersey and at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, as well as teaching social psychology to inmates at Sing Sing Prison. Throughout most of her professional career, Berger has worked at Bronx Community College of the City University of New York, first as an adjunct and for the past two decades as a full professor. She has taught introduction to psychology, child and adolescent development, adulthood and aging, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and human motivation. Her students—who come from many ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds and who have a wide range of ages and interests—consistently honor her with the highest teaching evaluations. Berger is also the author of A Topical Approach to the Developing Person Through the Life Span, The Developing Person Through the Life Span, and Invitation to the Life Span. Her developmental texts are currently being used at more than 700 colleges and universities worldwide and are available in Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, as well as English. Her research interests include adolescent identity, immigration, and bullying, and she has published many articles on developmental topics in the Wiley Encyclopedia of Psychology and in publications of the American Association for Higher Education and the National Education Association for Higher Education. She continues teaching and learning as her four daughters and three grandsons continue to develop, as she interacts with students every semester.

Table of Contents

Part 1: The Beginnings 
1 The Science of Human Development
2. From Conception to Birth

Part Two: The First Two Years
3. The First Two Years: Body and Mind 
4. The First Two Years: The Social World

Part Three: Early Childhood
5. Early Childhood: Body and Mind
6. Early Childhood: The Social World

Part Four: Middle Childhood
7: Middle Childhood: Body and Mind
8: Middle Childhood: The Social World

Part Five: Adolescence
9: Adolescence: Body and Mind
10: Adolescence: The Social World

Part Six: Adulthood
11: Adulthood: Emerging Adulthood
12: Adulthood: Body and Mind
13: Adulthood: The Social World

Part Seven: Late Adulthood
14: Late Adulthood: Body and Mind
15: Late Adulthood: The Social World 

Epilogue: Death, Dying, and Affirmation of Life

Product Updates

Achieve Updates
For the new edition, Achieve offers additional video resources, revised and updated Instructor’s Resources, free iClicker integration, and new Concept Practice tutorials.

Critical Thinking Enhancements
This edition emphasizes distinguishing opinion from fact with “Think Critically” questions throughout the text, fostering deeper analytical skills essential for independent thinking and informed decision-making in real-world scenarios.

Enhanced Focus on Culture and Diversity
Expanded discussions and analyses on culture and diversity ensure students gain a broader understanding of the diverse contexts influencing human development.

Updated Visualizing Development Infographics
New infographics like "Different People in Different Environments" and "Media Use Among U.S. Adults" clarify complex concepts and promote engaging learning experiences. 

Incorporation of Contemporary Topics and Research
Addressing subjects such as epigenetics, intersectionality, Covid-19, and neurocognitive disorders, this edition remains relevant and reflective of the latest advancements and societal issues, equipping students with current, comprehensive knowledge.

Relevant. Inclusive. Compelling. From the best-selling Berger.

Kathleen Berger’s Invitation to the Life Span is a vital resource for developmental psychology students, with the author’s engaging narrative and cultural inclusivity resonating through 15 concise chapters and an epilogue. Updated with essential new research on brain development, childhood psychopathology, and Covid-19's impact, and enhanced with innovative interactive activities via Achieve, this edition offers its most powerful media-centered learning experience yet.

Engaging WritingKathleen Berger, an experienced teacher and researcher, makes developmental psychology relatable through personal experiences, simplifying complex ideas.

Latest ResearchStay informed on epigenetics and end-of-life care. Berger highlights brain development, culture, diversity, education, and emotional growth, integrating up-to-date research to prepare students for their careers.

Cultural Focus: Berger explores cultural differences and commonalities, emphasizing their impact on values, customs, and individual development, serving as a unifying theme.

Interactive Data: Use interactive maps and graphs to explore childhood immunization rates and adolescent risk behaviors, providing a hands-on understanding of life-span development data.

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