
Child Development
Understanding A Cultural Perspective
Martin J. Packer(Author)
SAGE Publications Ltd (Publisher)
3rd Edition
Published on 3. February 2026
Book
Hardback
592 pages
978-1-0362-0146-3 (ISBN)
Description
Every child is born into a community, a society, a culture, in which they will live, grow and develop. Culture is an essential component of every child's psychological and physical development and this book forefronts differences in culture giving a global look at child development.
Taking a chronological approach, from prenatal development to adolescence, your knowledge of developmental psychology will grow with the child. To help you in your studies:
Social, cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of development are interwoven to help you connect it all together
You can find case studies from across the globe to enable you to compare cultures
Key research studies are highlighted to help you get to grips with the theory
You'll be encouraged to 'Stop and think' and engage your critical skills
Taking a chronological approach, from prenatal development to adolescence, your knowledge of developmental psychology will grow with the child. To help you in your studies:
Social, cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of development are interwoven to help you connect it all together
You can find case studies from across the globe to enable you to compare cultures
Key research studies are highlighted to help you get to grips with the theory
You'll be encouraged to 'Stop and think' and engage your critical skills
More details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 189 mm
Weight
1438 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0362-0146-3 (9781036201463)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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Book
approx. 03/2026
3rd Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
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02/2026
3rd Edition
Sage Publications Ltd (Digital)
€180.99
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E-Book
02/2026
3rd Edition
Sage Publications Ltd (Digital)
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Previous edition

Book
05/2021
2nd Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€227.29
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Martin Packer is an independent researcher in Bogota, Colombia. He obtained his BA with First Class honours in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and was a Fulbright Scholar for his PhD in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a research psychologist at Bedford College, University of London, and St. Mary's Hospital Perinatal Research Unit. He has taught at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan, Duquesne University, la Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, and la Universidad de San Buenaventura in Cali, Colombia. He has been visiting professor at Universidad de las Americas, in Puebla, Mexico, and at Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, in Xochimilco, Mexico City. His research has explored interactions between neonates and their mothers, early childhood-peer relations, conflict among adolescents, and the way schools change the kind of person a child becomes. Packer is co-editor of Entering the Circle: Hermeneutic Investigation in Psychology (with Ritch Addison), Cultural and Critical Perspectives on Human Development (with Mark Tappan) and Reflections on the Learning Sciences (with Michael Evans and Keith Sawyer). He is author of The Structure of Moral Action, of Changing Classes: School Reform and the New Economy, and of The Science of Qualitative Research (now in its second edition, and translated into Spanish). He was one of the founding co-editors of the journal Qualitative Research in Psychology, has been an editor of Mind, Culture, and Activity, and has published articles in American Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, The Journal of the Learning Sciences, Revista Colombiana de Psicologia, and Mind, Culture & Activity. He is currently an editorial board member of The Humanistic Psychologist, Qualitative Research in Psychology, and Mind, Culture, and Activity.
Content
Chapter 1: Theoretical perspectives
Chapter 2 Prenatal Development and Physical Differentiation
Chapter 3: Infancy: A Practical Understanding of the World
Chapter 4: Infancy: Culturally Defined Developmental Pathways
Chapter 5: Toddlerhood: Biological Differentiation (1 year to 30 months)
Chapter 6: Toddlerhood: Towards Psychological Differentiation (24 to 36 months)
Chapter 7: Early Childhood: Becoming Symbol Minded (3 to 6 years)
Chapter 8: Early Childhood: Encouraging Autonomy (3 to 6 years)
Chapter 9: Middle Childhood: Differentiating 'Inner' and 'Outer' (6 to 12 years)
Chapter 10: Middle Childhood: Non-schooled Development (6 to 12 years)
Chapter 11 Teenage Years: Adolescent or Adult? (13 Years and Up)
Chapter 12 Teenage Years: Integrating the Actual and the Possible (13 Years and Up)
Chapter 2 Prenatal Development and Physical Differentiation
Chapter 3: Infancy: A Practical Understanding of the World
Chapter 4: Infancy: Culturally Defined Developmental Pathways
Chapter 5: Toddlerhood: Biological Differentiation (1 year to 30 months)
Chapter 6: Toddlerhood: Towards Psychological Differentiation (24 to 36 months)
Chapter 7: Early Childhood: Becoming Symbol Minded (3 to 6 years)
Chapter 8: Early Childhood: Encouraging Autonomy (3 to 6 years)
Chapter 9: Middle Childhood: Differentiating 'Inner' and 'Outer' (6 to 12 years)
Chapter 10: Middle Childhood: Non-schooled Development (6 to 12 years)
Chapter 11 Teenage Years: Adolescent or Adult? (13 Years and Up)
Chapter 12 Teenage Years: Integrating the Actual and the Possible (13 Years and Up)