Laura E. Berk is a distinguished professor of psychology at Illinois State University, where she has taught child, adolescent, and lifespan development for more than three decades. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master's and doctoral degrees in child development and educational psychology from the University of Chicago. She has been a visiting scholar at Cornell University, UCLA, Stanford University, and the University of South Australia.

Berk has published widely on the effects of school environments on children's development, the development of private speech, and the role of make-believe play in development. Her empirical studies have attracted the attention of the general public, leading to contributions to Psychology Today and Scientific American. She has been featured on National Public Radio's Morning Edition and in Parents Magazine, Wondertime, and Reader's Digest

PART I - THEORY AND RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
1. History, Theory, and Research Strategies
PART II - FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT GENETIC FOUNDATIONS
2. Genetic Reproductive Choices and Environmental Foundations
3. Prenatal Development, Birth, and the Newborn Baby
PART III - INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD: THE FIRST TWO YEARS
4. Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
5. Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
6. Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
PART IV - EARLY CHILDHOOD: TWO TO SIX YEARS
7. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
8. Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood
PART V - MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: SIX TO ELEVEN YEARS
9. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
10. Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood
PART VI - ADOLESCENCE: THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD
11. Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
12. Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence
PART VII - EARLY ADULTHOOD
13. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood
14. Emotional and Social Development in Early Adulthood
PART VIII - MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
15. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
16. Emotional and Social Development in Middle Adulthood
PART IX - LATE ADULTHOOD
17. Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
18. Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood
PART X - THE END OF LIFE
19. Death, Dying, and Bereavement