Summary
Contents
Subject index
This major new textbook by Jaan Valsiner focuses on the interface between cultural psychology and developmental psychology. Intended for students from undergraduate level upwards, the book provides a wide-ranging overview of the cultural perspective on human development, with illustrations from pre-natal development to adulthood. A key feature is the broad coverage of theoretical and methodological issues which have relevance to this truly interdisciplinary field of enquiry encompassing developmental psychology, cultural anthropology and comparative sociology. The text is organized into five coherent parts: Part 1: Developmental theory and methodology; Part 2: Analysis of environments for human development Part 3:
Self-Regulation and Participation in Early Childhood
Self-Regulation and Participation in Early Childhood
Early childhood is a period of slow emergence of children's autonomy. It could be said that such autonomy becomes established in the middle of the myriad of everyday activities in the first six life-years. Some of these activities are the same as those of adults and older siblings. Others are peculiar to the given age level and cognitive capacities.
Development of psychological autonomy entails the emergence of goal-oriented flexible actions, and of self-motivation. The will - or intentionality - is the ultimate psychological characteristic of human beings that distinguishes them from biological species. Cultural psychology therefore needs to make sense of human intentionality, as it is made possible through the creation of cultural implements. Intentionality ...
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