The book explores the intersection of developmental psychology and the political economy of childhood, examining how children's experiences are shaped by national and international agendas. It offers a critical analysis of the contexts and frameworks that influence childhood development in the global landscape. This new edition serves as a vital resource for understanding the affective organization of childhood within the broader socio-political context, highlighting the implications for policy and practice in the developing world.
"... well-written and seems to be at a level which would be graspable by most undergraduate and maybe A level students - without neglecting too much the complexities of the use of qualitative techniques ... These characteristics coupled with the fact that each of the authors is an expert in using the particular qualitative techniques they discuss, means that the book can be heartily welcomed."Psychology Teaching Review This book is a collaborative production, based on the experiences of the co-authors in presenting a course over many years in Qualitative Methods to MSc students. All the team are members of staff of the Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology at the Manchester Metropolitan University, and have a wealth of experience in teaching and using qualitative methods. This is not an edited book; the authors have drafted particular chapters, but the team has collectively discussed, reworked and rewritten the text to produce a coherent review and guide to the area. This research guide is designed to be an introductory text to qualitative methods, intended for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. As well as furnishing an understanding of the assumptions underlying such research methods, the book is intended to present a practical guide as to how to carry out qualitative investigations, and in addition to provide the basis for a critical evaluation of these methods.
What is childhood, and how did psychology become the authority on 'normal' development? This revised and updated edition interrogates the assumptions surrounding child development psychology, critically evaluating its role in social practice. Since the first edition, the influence of childcare experts and the 'psy complex' has intensified. The book explores how shifts in advanced capitalism have led to new understandings of children and more punitive institutional responses. It addresses the paradox of childhood in a context where young adults are increasingly economically dependent on their families amid political insecurity.
The new edition includes an updated review of psychological theories, such as attachment and evolutionary psychology, and reflects on the evolving focus on fathers and fathering. It offers fresh perspectives on the connections between Piaget and Vygotsky, aligning more closely with discussions in the sociology of childhood and critical educational research. Coverage now includes more on child rights debates and a new chapter on practice dilemmas in child protection, highlighting the "raced" and gendered impacts of current policies. This engaging text provides essential resources for improving professional practice in social work, education, and health, offering critical insights into the politics shaping developmental psychological knowledge. It is crucial reading for anyone working with children or in
This crisis-ridden world is having disastrous effects on the climate, on our bodies and on our internal worlds, on how we feel and try to respond, on how we panic and on how we act collectively. Psychoanalysis can be part of this collective political response. Ian Parker shows how personal struggle can be linked to political struggle so we confr
Focusing on a new approach to understanding childhood, Erica Burman synthesizes her decade-long research that critiques traditional developmental psychology. She introduces the concept of "child as method," drawing from postcolonial, feminist intersectionality, and migration studies. This innovative perspective emphasizes the complexity of child development and encourages a pluralistic view, reshaping how we engage with and understand children's experiences and identities in contemporary society.
