Kathleen Stassen Berger and new co-author Kendra Thomas tell the story of human development in an engaging, accessible narrative style – with signature personal anecdotes, engaging case studies, and findings from thousands of articles and datasets. Their new critical thinking framework teaches students to “think like a developmentalist” to apply developmental science principles to a range of scenarios – whether they are studying attachment or aging, puberty or parenting. Five principles of developmental science are introduced in Chapter 1, repeated throughout the text, and connected to chapter content in a way that helps students remember and transfer their learning to other courses and professional settings.

Invitation to the Life Span combines Kathleen Berger's engaging narrative style with an inclusive perspective on human development across cultures and life stages. Organized into 15 concise chapters and an epilogue, this edition features updated research on brain development, childhood psychopathology, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19, along with an expanded media-rich learning experience that helps students connect developmental science to real-world contexts.

Extend the learning experience with Achieve's integrated activities, assessments, and study tools for psychology.

Achieve – Learn Psychology. Build Skills for Life.

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.

New in Achieve

Foundational Skills Modules - (AI ethics, AI basics, note-taking, time management, using APA style and reading research)Data Literacy Activities - (visual data, ethics, methods, statistics)AI-Enabled Guided Reading - makes reading truly assignable AI-Enabled Guided Quiz Review - builds in practice between attemptsShort-Form Writing Tool with rubric-aligned prompts and auto-scoring feedbackDeveloping Lives 2.1 - Interactive Parenting Simulation: Students raise a virtual child from pregnancy through adolescence, making critical lifestyle and parenting choices that shape development. 

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

Kathleen Berger’s acclaimed introduction to childhood and adolescence development weaves classic and cutting-edge research, contemporary topics, and relatable real stories and personal experiences. Berger’s pedagogy has students thinking critically about the real implications of the material they are learning, for themselves and for the world at large.

Kathleen Stassen Berger and new co-author Kendra Thomas tell the story of human development in an engaging, accessible narrative style – with signature personal anecdotes, engaging case studies, and findings from thousands of articles and datasets. Their new critical thinking framework teaches students to “think like a developmentalist” to apply developmental science principles to a range of scenarios – whether they are studying attachment or aging, puberty or parenting. Five principles of developmental science are introduced in Chapter 1, repeated throughout the text, and connected to chapter content in a way that helps students remember and transfer their learning to other courses and professional settings.

Invitation to the Life Span combines Kathleen Berger's engaging narrative style with an inclusive perspective on human development across cultures and life stages. Organized into 15 concise chapters and an epilogue, this edition features updated research on brain development, childhood psychopathology, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19, along with an expanded media-rich learning experience that helps students connect developmental science to real-world contexts.

Extend the learning experience with Achieve's integrated activities, assessments, and study tools for psychology.

Achieve – Learn Psychology. Build Skills for Life.

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.

New in Achieve

Foundational Skills Modules - (AI ethics, AI basics, note-taking, time management, using APA style and reading research)Data Literacy Activities - (visual data, ethics, methods, statistics)AI-Enabled Guided Reading - makes reading truly assignable AI-Enabled Guided Quiz Review - builds in practice between attemptsShort-Form Writing Tool with rubric-aligned prompts and auto-scoring feedbackDeveloping Lives 2.1 - Interactive Parenting Simulation: Students raise a virtual child from pregnancy through adolescence, making critical lifestyle and parenting choices that shape development. 

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

Kathleen Berger’s acclaimed introduction to childhood and adolescence development weaves classic and cutting-edge research, contemporary topics, and relatable real stories and personal experiences. Berger’s pedagogy has students thinking critically about the real implications of the material they are learning, for themselves and for the world at large.