Handbook of Dynamics in Parent-Child Relations

"This is a truly exceptional collection of contributions on the dynamics of family relationships. The authors not only provide thoughtful state-of-the-art reviews of relevant bodies of literature and methods, but also grapple with thorny conceptual issues and present novel theoretical insights. In doing so, they demonstrate the tremendous progress in thinking about families in the past decade or two and provide guideposts for future theory and research on parent-child relationships." - Nancy Eisenberg, Regents' Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University   "This forward looking volume will be invaluable to all concerned with parent-child relationships. With chapters written by leading researchers in the field, it focuses on process, and on the agency of both parent and child. The approach is therefore dialectical, changes in either partner continuously leading to change in the other. A must for teachers, researchers and graduate students."  - Robert A. Hinde, St. John's College, Cambridge, United Kingdom   Handbook of Dynamics in Parent-Child Relations provides an innovative, interdisciplinary perspective on theory, research, and methodology of dynamic processes in parent-child relations. Edited by distinguished scholar Leon Kuczynski, this accessible volume is divided into six parts. Part I concerns dyadic processes in parent-child relationships and provides the conceptual grounding for the volume as a whole. Parts II and III examine the agency of the child and the agency of the parent, respectively. Part IV considers dynamics in the parent-child dyad as they are mediated by or impact on various lifespan, cultural, and ecological contexts. Part V addresses the methodological implications of adopting a dynamic process view of parent-child relations. Part VI weighs future directions for theory, research, and practice.   An eminent group of scholars and researchers present a comprehensive exploration of parent-child relationships that includes the nature of change in parent-child interactions; cognitive, behavior, and relational processes that govern parent-child relationships; what makes such interactions and relationships "work" the way they do; the dynamics of parent-child relations, including bidirectional influence and human agency; quantitative and qualitative methodology in the context of theory verification and discovery.   Handbook of Dynamics in Parent-Child Relations focuses on process rather than outcomes, bi-directional influence rather than parent effects or child effects, and parents and children as agents and actors rather than as static traits or variables. This concern with dynamics represents an emerging research perspective that complements a long-standing alternative tradition primarily concerned with the products of parenting.   Interdisciplinary in scope, Handbook of Dynamics in Parent-Child Relations will appeal to academics, professionals, graduate students, and senior-level undergraduates involved with Developmental Psychology, Family Science, Human Ecology, and Family Sociology.    

Table of Contents:
Preface: Introduction and Overview - Leon Kuczynski Part I. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS AND PROCESSES IN PARENT-CHILD RELATIONS Ch. 1. Beyond Bidirectionality: Bilateral Conceptual Frameworks for Studying Dynamics in Paren-Child Relations - Leon Kuczynski Ch. 2. A Developmental Neuroscience Perspective on the Dynamics of Parenting - Daphne B. Bugental, Deborah H. Olster, & Gabriela A. Martorell (all of the University of California, Santa Barbara) Ch. 3. Developmental Change in Parenting Interactions - W. Andrew Collins (University of Minnesota) & Stephanie D. Madsen (Western Maryland College) Ch. 4. Conceptualizing the Influence of Past & Future in Present Parent-Child Relationships - Susan Lollis (University of Guelph) PART II: PERSPECTIVES ON CHILDREN′S AGENCY Ch. 5. A Developmental Perspective on Children as Agents in the Family - E. Mark Cummings & Alice C. Schermerhorn (both of University of Notre Dame) Ch. 6. Perspectives on Children′s Agency Within Families: A View from the Sociology of Childhood - Virginia Morrow (London School of Economics & Political Science) Ch. 7. The Aggressive Child as Agent in Coercive Family Processes - Donald Kent & Debra Pepler (both of York University) Ch. 8. Behavioral Genetics Contributions to Understanding Dynamic Processes in Parent-Child Relationships - Thomas G. O′Connor (Institute of Psychiatry, London) PART III: PERSPECTIVES ON PARENTAL AGENCY Ch. 9. Parenting as a Goal-Regulation Process - Theodore Dix & Sylvia H. Branca (both of University of Texas at Austin) Ch. 10. Meta-Parenting in the Journey of Child Rearing: A Cognitive Mechanism for Change - George W. Holden & Carol Kozak Hawk (both of University of Texas at Austin) Ch. 11. Effective Socialization as Problem-Solving & the Role of Parenting Cognitions - Joan E. Grusec (University of Toronto) & Judy Ungerer (Macquarie University, Sydney) Ch. 12. Parental Agency & Mental Health: Proaction & Construction in Families with a Depressed Parent - Carolyn Byrne (University of Ontario Institute of Technology) PART IV: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS IN RELATIONAL & ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Chap. 13. Managing the External Environment: The Parent & Child as Active Agents in the System - Ross D. Parke, Colleen M. Killian, Jessica Dennis, Mary L. Flyr, David J. McDowell, Sandra D. Simpkins, Mina Kim & Margaret Wild Chap. 14. Parent-Child Relationships in Cross-Cultural Perspective - Gisela Trommsdorff (University of Konstanz)) & Hans-Joachim Kornadt (University of the Saarland) Chap. 15. Parenting & Adult Development: Contexts, Processes & Products of Intergenerational Relationships - Rob Palkovitz, Loren D. Marks, & David W. Appleby (all of University of Delaware), & Erin Kramer Holmes (University of Texas at Austin) Chap. 16. Parent-Child Relations in Adulthood: An Intergenerational Family Systems Perspective - Joan E. Norris (University of Guelph), Michael W. Pratt (Wilfrid Laurier University), & Stephanie L. Kuiack (University of Guelph) PART V: METHODOLOGY Chap. 17. Quantitative Methods for Deductive (Theory-Testing) Research on Parent-Child Dynamics - William L. Cook (Maine Medical Center) Chap. 18. Qualitative Methods as Inductive (Theory-Generating) Research: Psychological & Sociological Approaches - Leon Kuczynski & Kerry Daly (both of University of Guelph) PART VI: IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH & PRACTICE Chap. 19. Parent-Based Interventions for Aggressive Children: Adapting to a Bilateral Lens - Timothy A. Cavell (University of Arkansas) & Paul S. Strand (Washington State University) Chap. 20. Reconstructing Common Sense: Metaphors of Bidirectionality in Parent-Child Relations - Leon Kuczynski, Susan Lollis, & Yuiko Takei (all of University of Guelph) Chap. 21. Epilogue: Dynamic Viewpoints on Parent-Child Relations: Their Implications for the Socialization Process - Eleanor Maccoby (Stanford University)