Current Issues in Developmental Psychology – serie

Cognitive development in children is a highly complex process which, while remarkably resilient, can be disrupted in a variety of ways. This volume focuses on two types of neurodevelopmental disorder: syndromic conditions such as fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome; and non-syndromic conditions including dyslexia, specific language impairment, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.This book provides a state-of-the-art review of current research and covers key topics across the full range of developmental disorders. Topics covered include: diagnosis and comorbidity genetics longitudinal studies computational models distinguishing disorder from disadvantage language and culture the modern beginnings of research into developmental disordersThe book also looks at how the study of developmental disorders has contributed to our understanding of typical development, and themes emerge that are common across chapters, including intervention and education, and the neurobiological bases of developmental disorders. The result is a fascinating and thought-provoking volume that will be indispensable to advanced students, researchers and practitioners in the fields of developmental psychology, neuropsychology, speech and language therapy, and developmental disorders.

This volume presents a selection of some of the most exciting new perspectives on moral development that have emerged over the last decade and have transformed our understanding of the field. The contributors to this book cut across traditional boundaries to provide an innovative and integrative approach to fundamental questions dealing with the nature and acquisition of morality. In addressing these questions, the chapters draw on new work on the origins of morality in infancy and the early years, comparative approaches examining morality in primates, new perspectives on moral emotions such as guilt and empathy, and new perspectives on the emerging moral self in childhood and moral identity in adolescence. The book also examines the roles of parenting and culture in children’s and adolescents’ moral development. Each chapter is framed in theory and methodology and provides illustrative examples of new research to address important questions in the field.This book is essential reading for researchers and advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying moral development and developmental psychology. It will also be of interest to academics and professionals in related fields such as education and public policy.

This volume presents a selection of some of the most exciting new perspectives on moral development that have emerged over the last decade and have transformed our understanding of the field. The contributors to this book cut across traditional boundaries to provide an innovative and integrative approach to fundamental questions dealing with the nature and acquisition of morality. In addressing these questions, the chapters draw on new work on the origins of morality in infancy and the early years, comparative approaches examining morality in primates, new perspectives on moral emotions such as guilt and empathy, and new perspectives on the emerging moral self in childhood and moral identity in adolescence. The book also examines the roles of parenting and culture in children’s and adolescents’ moral development. Each chapter is framed in theory and methodology and provides illustrative examples of new research to address important questions in the field.This book is essential reading for researchers and advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying moral development and developmental psychology. It will also be of interest to academics and professionals in related fields such as education and public policy.

Although Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD, sometimes referred to as ‘Dyspraxia’) has received less attention than other developmental disorders, its impact can be severe and long-lasting. This volume takes a unique approach, pairing companion chapters from international experts in motor behaviour with experts in DCD. Current understanding of the motor aspects of DCD are thus considered in the context of general motor behaviour research. Understanding Motor Behaviour in Developmental Coordination Disorder offers an overview of theoretical and methodological issues relating to motor development, motor control and skill acquisition, genetics, physical education and occupational therapy. Critically, Barnett and Hill ground DCD research within what is known about motor behaviour and typical development, allowing readers to evaluate the nature and extent of work on DCD and to identify areas for future research. This unique approach makes the book invaluable for students in developmental psychology, clinical psychology, movement science, physiotherapy, physical education, and special education, as well as researchers and professionals working in those fields.

Although Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD, sometimes referred to as ‘Dyspraxia’) has received less attention than other developmental disorders, its impact can be severe and long-lasting. This volume takes a unique approach, pairing companion chapters from international experts in motor behaviour with experts in DCD. Current understanding of the motor aspects of DCD are thus considered in the context of general motor behaviour research. Understanding Motor Behaviour in Developmental Coordination Disorder offers an overview of theoretical and methodological issues relating to motor development, motor control and skill acquisition, genetics, physical education and occupational therapy. Critically, Barnett and Hill ground DCD research within what is known about motor behaviour and typical development, allowing readers to evaluate the nature and extent of work on DCD and to identify areas for future research. This unique approach makes the book invaluable for students in developmental psychology, clinical psychology, movement science, physiotherapy, physical education, and special education, as well as researchers and professionals working in those fields.

Early Word Learning explores the processes leading to a young child learning words and their meanings. Word learning is here understood as the outcome of overlapping and interacting processes, starting with an infant’s learning of native speech sounds to segmenting proto-words from fluent speech, mapping individual words to meanings in the face of natural variability and uncertainty, and developing a structured mental lexicon. Experts in the field review the development of early lexical acquisition from empirical, computational and theoretical perspectives to examine the development of skilled word learning as the outcome of a process that begins even before birth and spans the first two years of life. Drawing on cutting-edge research in infant eye-tracking, neuroimaging techniques and computational modelling, this book surveys the field covering both established results and the most recent advances in word learning research. Featuring chapters from international experts whose research approaches the topic from these diverse perspectives using different methodologies, this book provides a comprehensive yet coherent and unified representation of early word learning. It will be invaluable for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in early language development as well as being of interest to researchers interested in lexical development.

Early Word Learning explores the processes leading to a young child learning words and their meanings. Word learning is here understood as the outcome of overlapping and interacting processes, starting with an infant’s learning of native speech sounds to segmenting proto-words from fluent speech, mapping individual words to meanings in the face of natural variability and uncertainty, and developing a structured mental lexicon. Experts in the field review the development of early lexical acquisition from empirical, computational and theoretical perspectives to examine the development of skilled word learning as the outcome of a process that begins even before birth and spans the first two years of life. Drawing on cutting-edge research in infant eye-tracking, neuroimaging techniques and computational modelling, this book surveys the field covering both established results and the most recent advances in word learning research. Featuring chapters from international experts whose research approaches the topic from these diverse perspectives using different methodologies, this book provides a comprehensive yet coherent and unified representation of early word learning. It will be invaluable for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in early language development as well as being of interest to researchers interested in lexical development.

Cognitive development in children is a highly complex process which, while remarkably resilient, can be disrupted in a variety of ways. This volume focuses on two types of neurodevelopmental disorder: syndromic conditions such as fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome; and non-syndromic conditions including dyslexia, specific language impairment, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.This book provides a state-of-the-art review of current research and covers key topics across the full range of developmental disorders. Topics covered include: diagnosis and comorbidity genetics longitudinal studies computational models distinguishing disorder from disadvantage language and culture the modern beginnings of research into developmental disordersThe book also looks at how the study of developmental disorders has contributed to our understanding of typical development, and themes emerge that are common across chapters, including intervention and education, and the neurobiological bases of developmental disorders. The result is a fascinating and thought-provoking volume that will be indispensable to advanced students, researchers and practitioners in the fields of developmental psychology, neuropsychology, speech and language therapy, and developmental disorders.

Children are born into a world infused with gendered information. An understanding of what it is to be a boy or girl can be critical in forming social relationships, social identities, and learning how to think and behave. Gender and Development is an important new volume that charts how children practice these gendered identities at different ages and in different social contextsTaking a socio-cognitive approach, and integrating both theoretical and applied perspectives, the book looks at a range of contexts in which gender affects development and socialisation, from the child’s place in the family unit and their interaction with parents and siblings, to the influence of communication with peers over the internet. Throughout the chapters an age-old issue is addressed through a contemporary, empirically focused perspective – namely the nature and extent of equality between the genders, and how difficult it is for attitudes, perceptions and stereotypes to change. Key social issues are covered, including pro-social behaviour, career choice and academic competencies. Gender and Development brings together some of the latest research in this important and enduring field of study. It is a timely and invaluable collection, and will be essential reading for all students and research in developmental psychology, social psychology and gender studies.

Children are born into a world infused with gendered information. An understanding of what it is to be a boy or girl can be critical in forming social relationships, social identities, and learning how to think and behave. Gender and Development is an important new volume that charts how children practice these gendered identities at different ages and in different social contextsTaking a socio-cognitive approach, and integrating both theoretical and applied perspectives, the book looks at a range of contexts in which gender affects development and socialisation, from the child’s place in the family unit and their interaction with parents and siblings, to the influence of communication with peers over the internet. Throughout the chapters an age-old issue is addressed through a contemporary, empirically focused perspective – namely the nature and extent of equality between the genders, and how difficult it is for attitudes, perceptions and stereotypes to change. Key social issues are covered, including pro-social behaviour, career choice and academic competencies. Gender and Development brings together some of the latest research in this important and enduring field of study. It is a timely and invaluable collection, and will be essential reading for all students and research in developmental psychology, social psychology and gender studies.

Children learn a great deal from other people, including history, science and religion, as well as language itself. Although our informants are usually well-intentioned, they can be wrong, and sometimes people deceive deliberately. As soon as children can learn from what others tell them, they need to be able to evaluate the likely truth of such testimony. This book is the first of its kind to provide an overview of the field of testimony research, summarizing and discussing the latest findings into how children make such evaluations – when do they trust what people tell them, and when are they skeptical?The nine chapters are organized according to the extent to which testimony is necessary for children to learn the matter in question – from cases where children are entirely dependent on the testimony of others, to cases where testimony is merely a convenient way of learning. Chapters also consider situations where reliance on testimony can lead a child astray, and the need for children to learn to be vigilant to deception, to ask questions appropriately, and to evaluate what they are told. With an international range of contributors, and two concluding commentaries which integrate the findings within a broader perspective of research on child development, the book provides a thorough overview of this emerging sub-field. Trust and Skepticism will be essential reading for researchers, academic teachers and advanced students working in the areas of cognitive development and language development, and will also be of great interest to educationists concerned with nursery and primary education.