A new entry for the growing topically-organized segment of this market, this book presents pivotal research and theories in a more readable, accessible style than titles currently available. This first edition teams Diane Papalia's teaching and writing expertise with Ruth Feldman's professional writing, and it introduces Dana Gross, a child development researcher and professor at St. Olaf's College in Minnesota. Applauded by reviewers for its combination of research coverage with applications and real-life examples, this new text also includes Papalia's hallmark of superior coverage of cross-cultural and social policy topics. - Link-ups open each part and show students the important connections between domains in each period of life, while Landmark Tables give a visual summary of the socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive developments covered in a part's chapters. - Components include Guideposts, which begin each chapter by giving boxed, broad overview questions to highlight the key ideas; Checkpoints, which appear periodically to help students check their mastery of the material; "What's Your View?" giving questions geared to help readers personalize the important and relevant topics and issues; and Key Terms, defined in the margins, and integrated within the summary of the guideposts at the end of each chapter. - Boxed Features explore topics in greater detail, and offer instructors the option of focusing on research, culture, social policy and historical comparisons.