Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives provides an
engaging and perceptive overview of both well-established and recent
theories in child and adolescent psychology. This unique summary of
traditional scientific perspectives alongside critical post-modern
thinking will provide readers with a sense of the historical development
of different schools of thought. The authors also place theories of
child development in philosophical and cultural contexts, explore links
between them, and consider the implications of theory for practice in
the light of the latest thinking and developments in implementation and
translational science.
Early chapters cover mainstream theories such as those of Piaget,
Skinner, Freud, Maccoby and Vygotsky, whilst later chapters present
interesting lesser-known theorists such as Sergei Rubinstein, and more
recent influential theorists such as Esther Thelen. The book also
addresses lifespan perspectives and systems theory, and describes the
latest thinking in areas ranging from evolutionary theory and
epigenetics, to feminism, the voice of the child and Indigenous
theories.
The new edition of Child Development has been extensively revised to
include considerable recent advances in the field. As with the previous
edition, the book has been written with the student in mind, and
includes a number of useful pedagogical features including further
reading, discussion questions, activities, and websites of interest.
Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives will be
essential reading for students on advanced courses in developmental
psychology, education, social work and social policy, and the lucid
style will also make it accessible to readers with little or no
background in psychology.
