Biosocial Perspectives on Children

Explores biological and social aspects of childhood across a wide spectrum of cultures.

Catherine Panter-Brick (Edited by)

9780521575959, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 April 1998

176 pages, 26 b/w illus. 8 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.281 kg

'I can't help but recommend a copy of this little gem for the library of all those working in the biosocial sciences.' Human Biology

Childhood is a uniquely human life-stage, and is both a biological phenomenon and a social construct. Research on children is currently of wide-ranging interest. This book presents reviews of childhood from four major areas of interest - human evolution, sociology/social anthropology, bio-medical anthropology and developmental psychology - to form a biosocial, cross-cultural understanding of childhood. The book places a strong emphasis on how childhood varies from culture to culture, offering examples from developed and developing countries, as well as from other animal species. It will be of interest to students and scholars within the fields of human biology, anthropology, sociology, health studies and developmental psychology.

1. Introduction: biosocial research on children Catherine Panter-Brick
2. Evolutionary and biological aspects of childhood Barry Bogin
3. From the child's point of view: issues in the social construction of childhood Allison James
4. Biological anthropology and child health: context, process and outcome Catherine Panter-Brick
5. Child psychology and anthropology: an environmental view Robert A. LeVine
6. The meeting of nature and nurture and the development of children: some conclusions Martin Richards
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Human biology [PSX], Age groups: children [JFSP1]