The Psychology of Human Social Development

The Psychology of Human Social Development provides a comprehensive introduction to the essential core topics and exciting new findings in this thriving field of developmental psychology. Following a thematic approach, the book looks at key topics in social development in childhood and adolescence, including personality development and research methods, taking the reader from first principles to an advanced understanding. The book explores socio-emotional development and social learning, as well as the history of thinking, and the evolutionary roots of social development, whilst also providing a clear balance between nature and nurture approaches. Taylor and Workman's user-friendly writing style accommodates readers with no previous knowledge of the subject area whilst exploring the most up-to-date theories and research from various areas of psychology which have gained relevance to developmental psychology. Featuring student-friendly pedagogy throughout, including end-of-chapter summaries, further reading recommendations and questions for discussion, The Psychology of Human Social Development is essential reading for undergraduates on social development or developmental psychology courses and relevant for related fields such as education, gender studies and nursing.

Dr Sandie Taylor is a visiting Lecturer at the University of South Wales, UK, and has 20 years' experience teaching criminological and developmental psychology. She has previously published: Forensic Psychology: The Basics and Crime and Criminality: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Professor Lance Workman is a visiting Professor at the University of South Wales, UK, and has published widely on biological and evolutionary psychology. His previous books include: Evolutionary Psychology and Evolution and Behavior (both with co-author Will Reader).

Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Introduction to themes and theories of development Chapter 2: Research methods in social development Chapter 3: Emotional development and attachment Chapter 4: Cognition and communication Chapter 5: Development of social cognition: theory of ind Chapter 6: Influence of the family Chapter 7: Influence of peers and friends Chapter 8: Development of self-concept Chapter 9: Social development through play Chapter 10: Moral development and prosocial behaviour Chapter 11: Antisocial behaviour Chapter 12: Individual differences: temperament and personality Chapter 13: The role of the media Chapter 14: The future for our understanding of social development References Glossary Index