Request for consultation

Thanks for your request. You’ll soon be chatting with a consultant to get the answers you need.
Your form is submitting...
{{formPostErrorMessage.message}} [{{formPostErrorMessage.code}}]
First Name is required. 'First Name' must contain at least 0 characters 'First Name' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid First Name
Last Name is required. 'Last Name' must contain at least 0 characters 'Last Name' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid Last Name
Email Address is required. 'Email Address' must contain at least 0 characters 'Email Address' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid Email Address
Institution is required.
Discipline is required.
Country is required.
State is required.
Cengage, at your service! How can we best meet your needs? is required.
Why are you contacting us today? is required. 'Why are you contacting us today?' must contain at least 0 characters 'Why are you contacting us today?' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid Why are you contacting us today?
New!

Human Development: A Life-Span View, 10th Edition

Robert V. Kail, John C. Cavanaugh

  • Copyright 2027
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Available 2 February 2026', '2026-02-02T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $244.95 See pricing and ISBN options
Instructor Next Steps
Students: Buy now
Human Development: A Life-Span View 10th Edition by Robert V. Kail/John C. Cavanaugh
Quick Navigation

Overview

Introduce students to the issues, forces and outcomes that make individuals into the people they are with the captivating, applied approach in Kail/Cavanaugh's "Human Development: A Life-Span View," 10th Edition. The authors combine their expertise in childhood, adolescence, adult development and aging to create a rich description of all life-span stages, tracing development from conception through late life. A comprehensive yet succinct narrative blends the latest neuroscience and biophysiological research with contemporary topics and emergent trends, demonstrating the connections between research and real life. Students gain theoretical and empirical foundations that equip them to become educated, critical interpreters of developmental information.

{{readMore['overview'] ? 'Read More' : 'Read Less'}}

Meet the Authors

{{collapseContainerClosed['meet-the-author'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

Robert V. Kail

Robert V. Kail is visiting professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and distinguished professor emeritus of psychological sciences at Purdue University. His undergraduate degree is from Ohio Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. is from the University of Michigan. Dr. Kail served as editor of both Child Development Perspectives and Psychological Science. He received the McCandless Young Scientist Award from the American Psychological Association, was named the Distinguished Sesquicentennial Alumnus in Psychology by Ohio Wesleyan University and is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Dr. Kail has also written CHILDREN AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT and SCIENTIFIC WRITING FOR PSYCHOLOGY.

John C. Cavanaugh

John C. Cavanaugh is Senior Consultant at Pathseekers II, Inc. He is former president and CEO of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, Chancellor Emeritus of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and former president of the University of West Florida. A researcher and teacher of adult development and aging for more four decades, he has published about 100 articles and chapters and authored, coauthored, or coedited 24 books on aging, information technology, and higher education policy. He is a past president of Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging) of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a fellow of APA (Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 20) and the Gerontological Society of America, and a charter fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. He has held numerous leadership positions in these associations, including chair of the Committee on Aging for APA. He has served on numerous state and national committees for aging-related and higher education organizations. He also serves on the Yellowstone Forever National Advisory Council. John is a devoted fan of “Star Trek” and a serious traveler, photographer, backpacker, cook, and chocoholic. He is married to Dr. Christine K. Cavanaugh, with whom he writes, co-teaches, and learns something new each day.

What's New

{{collapseContainerClosed['whats-new'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}
  • Attachment theory has been added as a core perspective across the life-span along with expanded insights on threats to development in childhood and adolescence.
  • Network neuroscience theory has been added to explain adult brain and cognitive development with new insights on grief, job uncertainty and generational work issues.

Features

{{collapseContainerClosed['features'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}
  • Spotlight on Research and Linking Research to Life features deepen understanding and show how life-span research informs real-world policy and practice.
  • Real People: Applying Human Development presents captivating stories that illustrate how a development issue manifests within the life of an actual person.
  • Diverse Perspectives: What Do You Think? features challenge students to think critically about current social and developmental issues.
  • The Unifying Issues feature connects chapter content to fundamental issues in human development, reminding students of core issues that drive human-development science.
  • Unique modified chronological treatment reduces redundancy and provides an integrated life-span approach, leading to a 16 chapter narrative manageable for a one-semester course.
  • Proven student-focused learning aids such as objectives, vignettes, Think About It questions and self-tests support and reinforce comprehension.

Table of Contents

{{collapseContainerClosed['table-of-contents'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}
1. The Study of Human Development.
Part I: PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT, INFANCY, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.
2. Biological Foundations: Heredity, Prenatal Development, and Birth.
3. Tools for Exploring the World: Physical, Perceptual, and Motor Development.
4. The Emergence of Thought and Language: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Early Childhood.
5. Entering the Social World: Socioemotional Development in Infancy and Early Childhood.
Part II: SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
6. Off to School: Cognitive and Physical Development in Middle Childhood.
7. Expanding Social Horizons: Socioemotional Development in Middle Childhood.
8. Rites of Passage: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence.
9. Moving Into the Adult Social World: Socioemotional Development in Adolescence.
Part III: YOUNG AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD.
10. Emerging and Established Adulthood: Physical, Cognitive, and Personality Development.
11. Being Connected: Relationships in Emerging, Established, and Middle Adulthood.
12. Working and Relaxing.
13. Making It in Midlife: The Biopsychosocial Challenges of Middle Adulthood.
Part IV: LATE ADULTHOOD.
14. The Personal Context of Later Life: Physical, Cognitive, and Mental Health Issues.
15. Social Aspects of Later Life: Psychosocial, Retirement, Relationship, and Societal Issues.
16. The Final Passage: Dying and Bereavement.
Glossary.
References.

Compare Buying Options

{{collapseContainerClosed['compare-buying-options'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

{{collapseContainerClosed['detail_0'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

  • ISBN-10: 8214156858
  • ISBN-13: 9798214156859
  • RETAIL $244.95
Instructor Next Steps
Students: Buy now