Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives, 3rd Edition

Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives provides a perceptive and engaging overview of theories in child and adolescent psychology, uniquely combining traditional scientific perspectives with critical (postmodern) approaches. This new edition has been extensively revised to incorporate recent advances in the field, featuring a new chapter, ‘Theorizing about children’s digital worlds’, that explores contemporary issues including social media, artificial intelligence, internet addiction and the banning of mobile phones in schools.

The authors skilfully place developmental theories within philosophical and cultural contexts, tracing historical developments across different schools of thought while exploring their interconnections and practical implications. Early chapters cover mainstream theorists such as Piaget, Skinner, Freud and Vygotsky. Other influential theorists include Maccoby and Thelen, and contemporary thinkers such as Overton and Stetsenko. Significant figures less well-known today, like Dewey and Rubinstein, are also introduced. The text also addresses broader frameworks including lifespan perspectives, systems theory, evolutionary theory, epigenetics, feminist approaches, children’s voices and Indigenous theories. Current controversies such as ‘decolonizing’ developmental psychology and the role of universities in knowledge production are also discussed.

Written with students in mind, the book includes valuable pedagogical features such as recommended readings, discussion questions, activities and relevant websites. Essential reading for postgraduate students in developmental psychology, education, social work and social policy, its lucid style makes complex theoretical concepts accessible to readers at all levels, including those with limited background in psychology.