The Foundations of Child Development

About this book

This book provides a broad and up-to-date introduction to theory and research in child development by presenting integrated research-based accounts of development in key areas of early childhood, such as perceptual abilities, social relationships, individuality and object knowledge. A focus on theoretical positions within these accounts is complemented by detailed critical examination of models of development processes. Particular attention is paid to images of children and childhood from historical and cross-cultural perspectives. The theme that runs through the book is a concern with the ways in which biological, social and cultural influences interact in development. Two of the chapters tackle these issues directly and show the problems associated with simplistic theories such as genetic determinism, arguing that human evolution has selected for plasticity and variety in developmental systems. Throughout the book, the reader is encouraged to engage critically with different interpretations of research evidence.

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