Building on the strengths that have made it successful through three editions, this new Fourth Edition presents a topical approach with an up-to-date, accurate, and balanced treatment of child psychology. The text captures the themes and emphases that characterize contemporary thinking in the field. In every respect--organization, emphases, and new material--this edition represents the most thorough-going revision of Child Psychology yet. In this Fourth Edition, new coauthor Shari Ellis brings her expertise on the sociocultural perspective on development. Together, Shari Ellis and Scott Miller continue Ross Vasta's vision for the text. New author, Dr. Shari Ellis, highlights the sociocultural perspective on development. An even stronger emphasis on cultural diversity and the cultural context for development. This emphasis helps students appreciate that development always occurs within a cultural context, and that this context--and also some aspects of development--may be different from what they are familiar with in their own culture.