Description
Book SynopsisIn this deeply probing, intellectually challenging work, Dr. JaanValsiner lays the groundwork for a dynamic new cultural-historicalapproach to developmental psychology. He begins by deconstructingtraditional developmental theory, exposing the conceptual confusionand epistemological blind spots that he believes continue toundermine the scientific validity of its methodologies. Hedescribes the ways in which embedded cultural biases shapeinterventional goals and influence both the direction researchtakes and the ways in which research data are interpreted. And hesuggests ways in which researchers and clinicians can become moreaware of and transcend those biases.
Dr. Valsiner then develops a hierarchical, systemic model thatportrays development as an open-ended, dialectical process. Centralto Valsiner''s approach is the premise that, since each child isunique--as are his or her life conditions--deviations in functionor the rate of development from a prescribed norm are just aslike
Table of ContentsDevelopmental and Nondevelopmental Orientations in Psychology, andTheir Contexts.
Basic Assumptions Underlying Psychological Research.
Crossroads of the Deductive and Inductive Lines of KnowledgeConstruction in Psychology.
Theoretical Bases for a Theory of "Bounded Indeterminacy" ofDevelopment.
The Theoretical System.
Actions in Culturally Organized Contexts: Settings ofMealtimes.
Cultural Regulation and the Development of Children's Actions atMealtimes.
Cultural Autoregulation of the Self: Semiotic Mediation of theIntrapsychological Realm.
Conclusions: "Bounded Variability" in Human PsychologicalDevelopment, and the Methodology for Its Study.
References.
Index.
