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Human Growth and Development
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Human Growth and Development

Second Edition


232 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

"One of the great strengths of Beckett's writing is that his style is accessible to new undergraduates and he makes sure that complex material is summarized in a way that enables students to understand difficult issues."
-Jacqueline Hughes, University of Huddersfield

Human Growth and Development, Second Edition is a bestselling introduction to emotional, psychological, intellectual and social development throughout the lifespan. Written for students training in fields such as social work, healthcare and education, the book covers topics which are central to understanding people whether they are clients, service users, patients, or pupils.

Each chapter outlines theories that explain development at different stages of life and the transitions we make between childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. For this Second Edition, a new chapter has been added (Chapter 10: It Takes a Village: the Sociological Perspective) exploring the wider social factors which influence human growth and development. Activities are provided within each chapter to help student test theoretical concepts against their own experience and intuitions.

Combining theoretical concepts and reflective learning, this book is the ideal introduction to psychosocial development for students on a wide range of professional courses.

 
The Birth of a Human Being: What Makes Us Who We Are?
 
The Balancing Act: Psychodynamic Insights
 
A Secure Base: The Importance of Attachment
 
The Emergence of Reason: The Developing Ability to Understand
 
Making Connections: Ideas from Behaviourism
 
Who Am I Going to Be? Adolescence, Identity and Change
 
Acting Like a Grown-up: Challenges of Adulthood
 
No Man Is an Island: Family Systems and Their Life Cycle
 
Access to Adulthood: Growing up with a Disability
 
It Takes a Village: The Sociological Perspective
 
Coming to a Conclusion: Themes in Old Age
 
That Good Night: Death, Dying and Bereavement

"An excellent text. Engages the reader and presents seminal theory in an easy to grasp format which I have found invaluable when teaching undergraduate nursing students." - Maureen Campbell, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee

"This second edition provides a wide-ranging and insightful analysis to psycho-social development across the lifespan. Highly recommended." Dawn Judd, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, University of Central Lancashire

"One of the great strengths of Beckett's writing is that his style is accessible to new undergraduates and he makes sure that complex material is summarised in a way that enables students to understand difficult issues." - Jacqueline Hughes, University of Huddersfield

"This is an excellent read. An impressive array of theoretical underpinnings applied to contemporary practice. Indeed a recommended read for students across the health and social care professions." - Michelle Davies, Academic Leader-Inter-Professional Practice (Social Work & Youth Work), University of Wales, Newport

"This book is a pleasure to read...the book will helpfully guide students at a range of levels to understand the critical stages of Human Development and apply theory to practice." - Mohammed Jakhara, Assistant Head of Subject, Applied Social & Community Studies, University of Derby


Very useful for Higher care core subjects.

Mrs Vivian Young
Care in Life Sciences, West College Scotland
November 2, 2015

Beckett and Taylor's book on Human Growth and Development gives a comprehensive overview of the human life course from birth to old age. It is thoroughly recommended for students studying the social sciences.

Miss Sandra Lyndon
Childhood Studies : Early Years, Chichester University
November 16, 2015

Useful book of reference. we are teaching across the life span and this book provides material of interest to students

Mr Stefan Brown
Department Of Social Work, Royal Holloway
December 8, 2015

This is a super book, one which is clear and has much accessible information/resources within. Have recommended to students.

Mrs Alicia James
Community Studies, Truro & Penwith College
September 2, 2015

An interesting read that allows learners to explore in depth the ways in which humans grow and develop at different ages. A recommended read for learners who are going into placement, the book will help guide their understanding of putting theory into practice.

Miss Rebecca Elizabeth Pace
Health & Social Care, Walbottle Campus
July 17, 2015

A well written, easy to understand book, catering for a wide range of undergraduate students.

Mr Charles Miller-Fik
School of Higher Education, City College
May 26, 2015

Needed a longer more in depth textbook for this particular course. I do like how condensed this book is though. It gives a good overview of human development.

Mrs Rachel Howard
Psychology, East Central College
March 23, 2015

Colleague has used on their module and students well aware of the text

Mrs Kerry Fidler
School of Social Work, University of Leicester
February 16, 2015

This is an excellent book which is a core text for this module.

Dr Gillian Constable
Division of Social Work, Glasgow Caledonian University
November 13, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

Introduction

Chapter One


Chris Beckett

Chris Beckett qualified as a social worker in the 1980s, and worked in the field for 18 years, first as a social worker and then as a manager, latterly as the manager of a children and families social work team.  Like most social workers who qualified at that time, he started out as a ‘generic’ social worker, working with a range of service users including children and families, old people, and people with mental health problems and disabilities, but his predominant area of work was with children and families.He moved into academic social work in 2000, working first at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and then at the... More About Author

Hilary Taylor

Hilary Taylor is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and a former social worker, social work lecturer and practice teacher.  More About Author