Social Development

This textbook provides an up–to–date account of our knowledge of social development. It is addressed to students of psychology and other social sciences with no or only limited knowledge of child development, and covers an age range up to and including adolescence. The content is organized according to themes, but these themes follow an approximate developmental progression.
The central theme of Social Development is that of socialization – how an essentially biological being becomes transformed into a highly sophisticated social being. Whilst giving full attention to the older and well–established aspects of our knowledge of social development but also to more recent topics such as research on behavior genetics, children′s theory of mind, post–infancy attachment development, and family dynamics. Throughout Professor Schaffer sets the findings within the context of the general aims and theoretical concerns that underpin the studies carried out, as well as of the methods used to obtain the knowledge gained. Due recognition is also given to the many practical implications of social development research for aspects such as day care, the development of anti–social behavior and family conflict.

Spis treści:
1. The Study of Social Development:.
The Questions Posed.
Conceptions and Preconceptions.
Methodological Considerations.
Summary.
2. Biological Foundations:.
Evolutionary Perspective.
The Genetics of Behaviour.
Bases of Individuality.
3. Constructing the First Relationships:.
Early Interactions.
From Non–verbal to Verbal Communication.
Attachment: Nature and Development.
Attachment: Individual Differences.
Summary.
4. Sense of Self: Sense of Other:.
The Self. Knowledge of Others.
Sex–Role Development.
Summary.
5. Families, Parents and Social–Interaction:.
Families as Systems.
The Nature of Parenting.
Socialization Processes.
Summary.
6. From Other–Control to Self–Control:.
Parental Control Techniques and Child Compliance.
Learning Social Rules.
Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviour.
Moral Development.
Summary.
7. Extrafamilial Relationships:.
Peer Relationships.
The Child in Society.
Summary.
8. Social Experience and its Aftermath:.
Reversible or Irreversible?.
Multiple Outcomes.
Continuity and Discontinuity.
Summary.
References.
Author Index.
Subject Index.

Nota biograficzna:
H. Rudolph Schaffer is Professor of Psychology at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and has written extensively on various aspects of child development. His books include Mothering (1977) and Making Decisions About Children (Blackwell Publishers, 1991), and he is also editor of the journal Social Development.

Okładka tylna:
This textbook provides an up–to–date account of our knowledge of social development. It is addressed to students of psychology and other social sciences with no or only limited knowledge of child development, and covers an age range up to and including adolescence. The content is organized according to themes, but these themes follow an approximate developmental progression.
The central theme of Social Development is that of socialization – how an essentially biological being becomes transformed into a highly sophisticated social being. Whilst giving full attention to the older and well–established aspects of our knowledge of social development but also to more recent topics such as research on behavior genetics, children′s theory of mind, post–infancy attachment development, and family dynamics. Throughout Professor Schaffer sets the findings within the context of the general aims and theoretical concerns that underpin the studies carried ou t, as well as of the methods used to obtain the knowledge gained. Due recognition is also given to the many practical implications of social development research for aspects such as day care, the development of anti–social behavior and family conflict.