A fully Australian ground-up developmental psychology text with a thematic approach.

Developmental Psychology brings together a balanced focus on Australian and international research contributions in developmental psychology. This text addresses the issues of lifespan development in a rigorous and challenging way using a thematic approach.

Research and graduate attributes identify critical thinking as a key attribute for students. This text encourages students to think critically and engage with current research trends. The inclusion of critical thinking components is designed to encourage students to think more deeply about the topics.

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to developmental psychology
CHAPTER 2 Foundations of development: Genetics and prenatal development
CHAPTER 3 Physical and motor development
CHAPTER 4 Perceptual development
CHAPTER 5 Stages of cognitive development: Piaget and beyond Piagetian approaches
CHAPTER 6 Cognitive development II: Information-processing, core-knowledge and sociocultural approaches
CHAPTER 7 Language development
CHAPTER 8 Personality development
CHAPTER 9 Social development
CHAPTER 10 Emotional development
CHAPTER 11 Moral development
CHAPTER 12 Psychological problems and development
CHAPTER 13 Conclusions

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• Learning Objectives are now linked to key topics in text and to end-of-chapter Practical Exercise questions
• Enhanced concept maps at the start of each chapter which highlight the links between theory and research
• Critical Thinking questions to assist students’ ability to identify, define and analyse problems; create solutions; evaluate opinions; and improve current practices
• Updated content to reflect new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
• Updated content and research including: thorough update and streamlining of social and emotional development material (Chapters 9 and 10) and new material on resilience (Chapter 12)

• Concept Maps highlight how theory and research are linked
• Stop and Review questions are carefully placed throughout the chapters to encourage students to think at a deeper level about what they have just read
• Research Focus boxes highlight research studies that provide a deeper coverage of relevant theories covered
• Practical Exercises encourage students to apply their theoretical knowledge and develop actual research skills in the field of developmental psychology

Dr Fiona White
Professor, Associate Dean of the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (BLAS) degree, The University of Sydney

Fiona has sustained an outstanding program of research in adolescent and adult social, moral and prejudice development, authoring over 70 publications. Enhancing student learning in a tertiary context is an equally important research interest for Fiona and her expertise in the scholarship of teaching and learning has been recognised externally from the Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) in the form of several grants and a teaching excellence award.

Dr Brett Hayes
Professor, School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales

Brett is the author of over 85 research articles and books on cognitive processes and cognitive development and is an internationally recognised expert on conceptual development and reasoning in children.

Dr David Livesey
Associate Professor, Deputy Head of School, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney

David has been involved in teaching developmental psychology for over 30 years and is the author of more than 40 research articles and book chapters on the development of response control and motor ability. His primary focus has been on development in the preschool years and he has produced a number of tests specifically for this age group. He has presented his research findings at numerous national and international conferences on developmental and experimental psychology.