This Very Short Introduction provides an up-to-date authoritative & accessible guide to modern child psychology from birth to early adolescence Beginning with infancy Usha Goswami considers the process of attachment & 'bonding' showing how secure attachments enable the development of self-understanding Exploring childhood learning ranging from aspects of language & thinking to cognitive reasoning Goswami looks at how babies & toddlers develop an understanding of the physical biological & social worlds & develop complex abilities like language & morality Demonstrating how learning is shaped by the environments surrounding the child; at home school with peers & in wider society Goswami emphasizes the importance of childhood friendships & siblings for psychological development Introducing the key theories in child psychology Goswami explains why children develop as they do & how society can further optimize their development through the adolescent years ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable