Human Growth and Development

What is it that determines what sort of person we become? Is a child’s future personality already determined at birth, or is a newborn baby like a blank sheet, waiting to be written on by life? Is our personality determined by anything, or do we choose for ourselves who we are, create ourselves out of nothing? This bestselling introduction to emotional, psychological, intellectual and social development throughout the lifespan will help you explore these questions and many more.    Written for students training for careers in the helping professions, including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, teachers and counsellors, the book covers topics which are central to understanding people whether they are clients, service users, patients or pupils. Following the shape of a human life, beginning with birth and ending with death, it combines theoretical concepts and reflective learning to help you develop an understanding of what makes human beings grow and change over their lives to inform your decisions and professional practice.  

Table of Contents:
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 Access to Adulthood: Growing up with a Disability No Man Is an Island: Family Systems and Their Life Cycle It Takes a Village: ASociological Perspective Coming to a Conclusion: Themes in Old Age That Good Night: Death, Dying and Bereavement

About the Author :
Chris Beckett studied Psychology at Bristol University and qualified as a social worker at Bangor, North Wales, in 1980, going on to work for eighteen years as a social worker and social work manager, and then for fifteen years as a social work lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of East Anglia. He has had a parallel career for some time as a writer of fiction and is now a full-time writer. His novel, Dark Eden was the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award for 2012. Hilary Taylor trained as a social worker after studying English at Oxford University, qualifying in 1973. At the beginning of her career she worked with all service user groups, and later in adult social care, mental health, group therapy and family mediation. She then moved into social work training and education, teaching at Anglia Ruskin University for nine years and also working as an independent practice teacher. She also trained as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and now has a private counselling and psychotherapy practice.

Review :
This is a very thoughtful and engaging book.  Students will find it a useful resource to begin their exploration of human growth.   It manages to encapsulate theoretical learning whilst promoting critical thought and further exploration This book introduces the reader to a very wide range of theory and concepts relating to human growth and development across the entire lifespan from birth to death. It’s a great introductory text with useful practical activities to encourage students to engage and reflect. The book is very accessible to both students and lecturers and works very well as an introductory source. The activities are a useful teaching aid and provide examples which help students make links between theory and real life. I am pleased to endorse the second edition of Chris Beckett and Hilary Taylor book which sets out a clear and accessible text to guide students in understanding human growth and development. It is particularly beneficial as students begin their journey in exploring theories to help understand the course of human life and get to grips with the complexity of development. I recommend this book as an introduction for all levels of academic study. This text offers an insightful journey through the life course exploring the events and experiences that shape us into the individuals we are. The text combines the underpinning theories with a practical discussion and useful activities help to guide application of thinking throughout. The text is invaluable for students and academics alike and is relevant across a wide range of subject areas. An excellent book with an engaging style. Clear accessible information is supported by practical activities. A ‘must have’ resource for those students and practitioners seeking to understand the application of a psychosocial approach to human growth and development. Human Growth and Development provides an excellent foundation to understanding lifespan changes and dynamics for social work (or social and health care students). This informative text is supported by activities and case examples which help connect theory and practice in a meaningful way. The language throughout is unambiguous and accessible, the summaries are concise and the case studies give good practical applications to the theoretical concepts....The book is easy to understand and well structured. The ideas are presented in a logical and coherent format, which makes it a fascinating read