Child and Adolescent Development (3rd Edition)

The development of children is one of the most fascinating wonders of life. From the moment conception takes place until the end of adolescence when the person enters the adult world, the developmental road is characterised by numerous miracles and mysteries. In this book, the authors are sharing their training and experience in the field of child psychology, not only as a clinical and counselling psychologist respectively, but also as the proud parents of two children, a grandson and a granddaughter. The target audience of this book is primarily undergraduate students in psychology, education, social work, psychiatry and related disciplines. The nature and extent of Child and Adolescent Development, however, also makes it suitable for use on the postgraduate level (especially where this field was not a focus area in the undergraduate course). Furthermore, the book contains valuable information which will be of interest to anyone who has an interest in child and adolescent development. Child psychology tells you more about your own and your children’s development. In the process, you also acquire a better understanding of other people. However, to be interesting only does not justify the existence of a science. Therefore, it is important to know what the scientific contribution of child psychology is; that is, why we study and research this interesting field. The goals of child psychology are in line with the goals of general psychology: • To describe the changes typically occurring from conception to about 18 years of age. For example: How does the unborn child develop in his or her mother’s womb? How do 2-, 7-, 12- and 16-year-olds differ? How does sexuality develop during puberty and adolescence? • To explain what causes these developmental changes. Which factors could influence the prenatal development of the baby? Which factors could influence a delay in a child’s language or cognitive development? How does peer pressure and bullying affect a child’s self-image? • To predict, based on past and present characteristics, what behaviour the child will manifest at a later stage in his or her life. For example: What is the effect of alcohol and smoking on the unborn child? If a baby starts walking at an early age, does it mean that he or she is likely to become a good athlete? Will the aggressive infant turn into an aggressive teenager? Will the curious child develop into a scientist?