Synopses & Reviews
This is a lively and stimulating resource for all students of child development. The book begins with an overview of the field, placing the subsequent readings in context within the discipline. It includes classic essays and important recent research, divided into six sections which reflect the major areas of study in developmental psychology: starting off in life; language and communication; cognition and representation; literacy and numeracy; others and their influence; and towards adulthood. In addition the editors have provided suggestions for using the reader and for developing related study skills. Ideal for students in developmental psychology, the book will also interest students in education, social work, and health professions.
Synopsis
cViews of children's psychological development have varied widely over the course of history, and still vary across cultures and political regimes. Having started from a philosophical perspective, with Locke's notion of a 'tabula rasa' and Rousseau's idea of innate qualities, the debate about mechanisms of child development has become a field of scientific endeavour that has grown dramatically in recent years.David Messer and Julie Dockrell bring together both classic papers and more recent publications which have already had an impact. Providing a balance of theoretical, empirical and review papers, they cover research on infants, children and adolescents. The readings are arranged in chronological order, with sections on Starting Off in Life, Language and Communication, Cognition and Representations, Literacy and Numeracy, Others and Their Influence, and Towards Adulthood. They also offer helpful suggestions about ways of using the reader and developing related study skills, as well as practical advice on writing essays and research papers.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Social relationships at the start of life
Language and communication
Cognition and representations
The development of numeracy and literacy
Others and their influence: beyond the self
Towards adulthood