The Classic Edition of Heidi Keller's Cultures of Infancy, first
published in 2007, includes a new introduction by the author, which
describes for readers the original context of her work, how she has
further developed her research and thinking, and the ongoing relevance
of this volume in the context of future challenges for the field.
In its original volume, Cultures of Infancy presented the first
systematic analysis of culturally informed developmental pathways,
synthesizing evolutionary and cultural psychological perspectives for a
broader understanding of human development. In this compelling book,
Heidi Keller utilizes ethnographic reports, as well as quantitative and
qualitative analyses, to illustrate how humans resolve universal
developmental tasks in particular sociodemographic contexts. These
contexts are represented in cultural models, with three distinct models
addressed throughout the text: the model of independence with autonomy
as developmental organizer; the model of interdependence with
relatedness as the developmental organizer; and the model of autonomous
relatedness representing particular mixtures of autonomy and
relatedness. The book offers an empirical examination of the first
integrative developmental task during the early months of
life-relationship formation. Keller shows that early parenting
experiences shape the basic foundation of the self within particular
models of parenting that are influenced by culturally informed
socialization goals. With distinct patterns of results that the studies
have revealed, Cultures of Infancy helps redefine developmental
psychology as part of a culturally informed science based on
evolutionary groundwork.
Scholars interested in a broad perspective on human development and
culture will benefit from this pioneering volume.
