H. Rudolph Schaffer is Professor Emeritus at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He was written extensively on various aspects of child development, his latest book for Blackwell being Social Development, published in 1996.

"H. Rudolph Schaffer has written a most timely volume in this era of broken homes and rapidly changing family lives. His book attempts to bridge the gap between what academicians know about children's social development and family relationships and the practical concerns of nurses, doctors, lawyers and other professionals who must often weigh alternative courses of action as they attempt to serve children's best interests in matters of custody, adoption or foster care." Review Of First Edition in Contemporary Psychology. "The writing style is accessible, the issues and debates are presented in a balanced and clear manner, and, as a result, the conclusions appear well reasoned. This text is especially useful for practitioners working in family health or family counselling agencies." Journal of Family Studies, Vol 7, April 2001

• Series Editor's Preface to the Second Edition. Preface to First Edition.Preface to Second Edition.Part I: On Using Research: .Sources of Decision Making.The Nature of Research.Part II: Children and Their Families: Issues for Research and Practice:.When do Children First Form Attachments to Other People?.How Long Can the Formation of the First Attachment Be Delayed?.When Does Maternal Bonding Occur?.Is There a 'Blood Bond'?.Are Children Born by the New Reproductive Technologies at Risk?.Do Women Make Better Parents than Men?.Do Children Need a Parent of Each Sex?.Does Separation from Parents Cause Psychological Trauma?.Does Maternal Deprivation Bring About Long-term Damage?.Should Mothers Go Out to Work?.Is Group Daycare Bad for Young Children?.Are Children Harmed by their Parents' Divorce?.Does Marital Conflict Affect Children's Well-being?.Can Children From Love Relationships to New Parent-figures?.Does Parental Pathology Lead to Child Pathology?.Do Early Problems Continue into Later Life?.Does Family Poverty Affect Psychological Development?.Who Becomes Antisocial?.Is Physical Punishment Psychologically Harmful?.Who are the Vulnerable Children?.Part III: A View of Childhood: .Some General Themes.A Concluding Note of Optimism.References.Name Index.Subject Index.