Abstract

A Childhood Psychology is a truly unique contribution to the field of childhood psychology. By interrogating the key questions lying at the heart of this rapidly changing field, it provides fresh and bold insights that are accompanied by original analysis and an interdisciplinary approach.
Packed with new developments and delivered with clarity, the book challenges our assumptions about childhood in modern society, scrutinizes contemporary trends in international research, and outlines controversial challenges to traditional paradigms. Sommer's valuable insights into developmental and childhood psychology will be of particular interest to students and researchers of psychology, anthropology, cultural studies and sociology.

Dion Sommer does a great service by localizing children's development and socialization in our rapidly changing times. From a Scandinavian outlook on the world early in the 21st century, the author provides a highly refreshing account. New stimulating conceptual understandings and interdisciplinary research is presented in order to explain young children's 'new realities'. It is a highly well-timed reflective contextual approach proposing a paradigm shift.' – Professor Michael Cole, University of California, San Diego, USA