Visions of infancy: A critical introduction to child psychology

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This new textbook introduces students to the many different perspectives in child psychology by analysing what the major figures in the field have said about the mental life of babies. From the earlier writings of Darwin and Freud to the more recent contributions of Piaget, Skinner, Chomsky, Bowlby and others, Ben Bradley offers a clear appraisal of the origins, development and current concerns of the discipline of child psychology.

The initial chapters deal in turn with Darwin's work on babies, with associationism and behaviourism, and with some of the major figures in psychoanalysis, including Freud, Klein and Lacan. The author calls into question and revises some of the accepted interpretations of the ideas of these 'founders' of child psychology.

Later chapters introduce readers to a range of central debates about the origins of language in infancy, the foundations of reasoning, the development of the emotions and the nature of infant-adult interaction. On the basis of this critical analysis, Ben Bradley argues that child psychology should be thought of less as a branch of natural science than as an intrinsically interpretative discipline.

Clearly written and well illustrated, "Visions of Infancy" is ideal as an introductory textbook in child psychology and it will be welcomed by students and general readers alike.

Authors may submit their manuscripts through online portal or as an e-mail attachment
at behaviour@emedicalscience.com ; childpsychol@scholarlypub.com