Child Psychology: A Contemporary Viewpoint

by E. Mavis Hetherington, Ross D. Parke

This text is a topically organized survey of theory and empirical studies in child development. It exposes students to a wide range of theoretical viewpoints, including cognitive, behavioural, and biological perspectives. "Child Psychology" has been extensively revised, integrating the most current issues, studies, research and findings in the field throughout the whole book. In this fourth edition there is new coverage of cognitive development, the effect of the media on children, and gender role development and the gender differences debate. There is also increased coverage on diverse ethnic, racial and cultural groups within our heterogenous society and in societies around the globe.

Genres: Psychology, Child Psychology, Parenting, Science, Nonfiction

768 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Ryan Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This textbook provides a good basic overview of early human development, though I find the author takes a bit too much privilege in interpreting certain studies and facts, while providing often baseless (non-cited) and unnecessary vamp on supposed implications of the sections. I also dislike how much focus is put into detailing the huge number of different studies that have come up with similar but slightly different results on topics, even if the differences are only in name. For example, the number of different growth models at each stage of life is daunting and unnecessary, especially considering that virtually no time is spent covering the conceptual, foundational, and historical aspects of this field of psychology.

I've read two other developmental psychology books and prefer both heavily over this one.