Deconstructing Developmental Psychology

This thoroughly updated fourth edition of Deconstructing Developmental Psychology interrogates the assumptions and practices surrounding the psychology of child development. It provides a critical evaluation of the role and contribution of developmental psychology within social practice.Re-evaluating core topics and debates in developmental psychology, this new edition interrogates current debates and social movements around neurodiversity, disability studies via feminist and postcolonial analyses. It includes two brand new chapters on protecting children that critically evaluates debates about child protection and harms to children, and what happens when attachment is lost. The book offers key tools for understanding current social policy and media concerns on local and global levels, discussing issues such as the impacts of social media on children; autism; Adverse Child Experiences; and age assessment of child asylum seekers. Each chapter includes suggested activities and further reading, making it easier to apply theory to practice. Offering critical insights into politics and procedures that have shaped developmental psychological knowledge, this engaging and accessible text is essential reading for students of psychology, social work, health care, education and childhood studies. It will also be of interest to professional and practitioner groups working with children or child policy.