Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence [Hardcover]

David R. Shaffer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0534264360 | ISBN-13: 978-0534264369 | Publication Date: August 1995 | Edition: 4th

This work presents the facts, theories, and processes of developmental psychology in an easy-to-read style. The main points of the major theories are described, compared to other theories, their strengths and weaknesses are shown, and it is made clear when conflicts have not been resolved. The book presents the psychoanalytic, behaviouristic, cognitive-developmental, ecological, and behaviour genetic fundamentals. It then illustrates how various theoretical viewpoints, though sometimes in opposition, all bring validity to the point being made. The book is organized topically to focus intently on developmental processes and to provide students with an uninterrupted view of the sequences of change that children and adolescents experience within each developmental domain. It stresses the fundamental interplay among biological, cognitive, social, and cultural influences of each aspect of development, so students do not lose sight of the whole person and the holistic character of human development.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David R. Shaffer is a Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator of Psychology at the University of Georgia, where he focuses on the Social and Life-Span Developmental Psychology Programs. He has been teaching courses in human development to graduate and undergraduate students for nearly 30 years. His many research articles have concerned such topics as altruism, attitudes and persuasion, moral development, sex roles and social behavior, self-disclosure, and social psychology and the law. He has also served as associate editor for the "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology," "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin," and "Journal of Personality." In 1990 Dr. Shaffer received the University of Georgia's highest instructional honor?the Josiah Meigs award for Excellence in Instruction. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Brooks/Cole Pub Co; 4th edition (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534264360
• ISBN-13: 978-0534264369
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,456,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SHAFFER: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, SIXTH EDITION (2001), April 9, 2008

By 

Stephen E. Buggie "Tropical Steve" (Gallup NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence (with InfoTrac) (Hardcover)

I wrote the instructor's test bank for the 2001 Sixth edition of the Shaffer text book: 504 pages of multiple choice and essay test questions, supplied to faculty who teach with the book. Shaffer's book is organized as a "topically arranged" textbook. About half the child psych textbooks are topically arranged ---- each chapter has a topic, and all age levels are considered. This arrangement allows greater in-depth coverage opf the ,material than the chronological arrangement of half the titles in this area. The advantage of the chronological arrangement is that there is better awareness of the kids getting older as the semester progresses. Today, I use both arrangements, with a topical book in the fall semester and a chronological book in the spring semester. I did NOT adopt the Shaffer 6/e book as my topical book: It is for an upper division course in child psychology, and noticeably harder than the chronological text I have adopted. I had to select a lower-division topical book instead (Seigler, DeLoach, & Eisenberg: How Children Develop, 1/e). But I have several copies of the Shaffer book on reserve at the library, for extra credit testing. Shaffer's book is advanced and students will need to read it slowly and carefully. BEST CHAPTER is Ch. 12: The Self & Social Cognition.. My main criticism of the Shaffer book is that 99% of the narrative is identical between the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions. When writing the 6/e Test Bank, I told the editor that the ONLY ORIGINALITY in the entire Sixth Edition project was my Test Bank (90% fresh questions); the book, study guide, and Instructor's manual were 99% identical to the previous edition. ----- Psychology professor, Gallup NM

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little wordy, but interesting, January 9, 2007

By 

Mr. Rosewater (Alburg, VT United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Developmental Psychology (with InfoTrac) : Childhood and Adolescence (Textbook Binding)

The first couple of chapters are a bit boring and wordy, but then it gets more engaging. Actually the material is all interesting, but could have been condensed about 4 times, then the book would weigh a lot less and teach a lot more. I think that if this is at least someone's second phych course, they would benefit more from a smaller text that taught the same info with fewer words. Unfortunately, most intro undergraduate texts are ridiculously bulky for no good reason, so in comparison this one is quite good.