Key Topics in Infant Development - Michelle de Haan

Key Topics in Infant Development provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the science of infant development from birth to three years of age. Bringing together classic theories, contemporary research, and developmental neuroscience perspectives, it explores how infants learn, think, communicate, form relationships, and adapt to their environments during the earliest years of life.

The book introduces readers to the foundational concepts, theories, and methods that underpin the study of infant development. It examines major debates including nature versus nurture, sensitive periods, continuity and discontinuity, and active versus passive learning, alongside the contributions of influential theorists. The text explores cognitive, social, emotional, communicative, and motor development, while also introducing developmental cognitive neuroscience approaches, including brain imaging and behavioural methods used to study infants. Dedicated chapters consider research methods, developmental processes across diverse global contexts, links between developmental science and policy, and emerging directions for the field. Throughout, the book integrates theoretical perspectives with real-world applications and contemporary research evidence.

Written for undergraduate psychology students and those studying child development, education, health sciences, and related disciplines, this book provides a clear and engaging foundation in infant development. It will also serve as a valuable resource for educators, practitioners, and researchers seeking an accessible overview of current theory, methods, and evidence.