Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology [Hardcover]

Arnold J. Sameroff (Editor), Michael Lewis (Editor), Suzanne M. Miller (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0306462753 | ISBN-13: 978-0306462757 | Publication Date: November 1, 2000 | Edition: 2nd

Developmental psychopathology involves the study and prediction of maladaptive behaviors and processes across time. This new edition of the Handbook furthers the goal of integrating developmental processes into the search for adequate categorical systems for understanding child mental health problems and the trajectories that lead to adult psychopathology. The editors respond to contemporary challenges to place individual behavior in a biological and social context. By including a range of approaches, this volume encompasses the complexity of the growing developmental literature. At the same time, it includes the most recent efforts to produce concise child diagnostic categories. In a thoroughgoing revision of the first edition of this classic text and reference, published by Plenum in 1990, the editors have assembled a distinguished roster of contributors to address such topics as issues and theories; context and mental health; biology and mental illness; disorders of early childhood; disruptive behavior disorders; emotional disorders; control disorders; pervasive developmental disorders; and trauma disorders. Clinicians, researchers, and students in such diverse fields as developmental and clinical psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, social work, and educational and counseling psychology will benefit from the concepts, investigations, and challenges presented in this state-of-the-art compendium.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From reviews of the First Edition: `The editors took on a challenging task in assembling a handbook of developmental psychopathology... [and] have chosen to portray [its] diversity and potential.... [A] useful sampling of [the field of] developmental psychopathology... [and] a valuable reference for a variety of professionals and investigators concerned with child and adolescent psychopathology.' Contemporary Psychology `For anyone concerned with child and adolescent psychopathology, there is a great deal of interest to be found in this excellent edited volume. The scope is broad with good coverage... [T]he chapters provide thoughtful and balanced reviews of both the current state of knowledge and some of the concepts and ideas that are likely to guide research and clinical practice over the next few years.... [T]he overall standard is high and the book can be recommended as an interesting set of highly informative essays on key issues...' British Journal of Developmental Psychology Prepublication praise for the Second Edition: `This new edition coming ten years after the pioneering First Edition of the Handbook confirms how much growth has occurred in our understanding of the determinants of mental health in children. The inclusion of many new chapters on developmental issues will help both researchers and clinicians flesh out their understanding of both the ensuring progress and continuing issues in the field.' Daniel Stern, Cornell University Medical School and University of Geneva `This book achieves its aims in providing current insights into the relationship between development, biology, context, and protection against psychopathology. This conceptual framework provides a basis for characterizing the relationships between etiologic components of psychopathology. Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology, Second Edition is recommended as an essential volume in the personal libraries of all mental health clinicians and researchers.' Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 62:10 (2001)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 786 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 2nd edition (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306462753
• ISBN-13: 978-0306462757
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What were they thinking?, March 5, 2006

By 

Jeffrey A. Bartlett (Harrisonburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology (Hardcover)

To preface: at the time of this writing I am finishing my Master's degree in psychology, and currently enrolled in an Advanced Developmental Psychopathology course using this text.

I have more than five years experience working with the chronically and acutely mentally ill, both as a social worker as well as in a direct care capacity.

I have taken several developmental courses, psychopathology courses, and developmental psychopathology courses.

It should be noted that the text in question presents no factual inaccuracies that I know of. The book is not flawed in any sense beyond how it is written. But the writing is a tremendous problem.

The book appears to be written in a pattern aimed at people who think in a pattern radically different than counselors. The opening chapter attempts to use equations to describe behavior, when a simple descriptive paragraph would have been much easier. The entire book progresses in this fashion, seeing people as a series of variables coming together, rather than as dynamic individuals.

As an example, in explaining an interactional or transformational model of development, I might say "the child and the environment dynamically interact. The environment can change or modify the child's behaviors, but as the child changes, his new interactions with his parents and school changes the environment, which then in turn acts on the child, and so on, and so on."

The text favors presenting this information as (E) + (c) --> (EC) -->(e2) + (EC) --> e3

I don't know about you, but that doesn't make much sense to me.

The text is also incredibly dry, and often relatively simple concepts that could be explained in one to two paragraphs are stretched over one to two pages. Generally, reading for most classes can be considered a chore. It is a student's job. But with this text, the writing is extraordinarily cumbersome, and reading it unnecessarily unpleasant.

The dry writing aside, it is important to emphasize that the rating given is my own personal opinion. The text conflicts with my learning style. It is written in a manner completely unlike any other psychology textbook I have ever read and I find it to be extremely irritating. But if you are the sort of person for whom math was always your best subject, and English literature your worst, you may find this text a refreshingly clear and straightforward presentation of concepts that may otherwise be unclear to you.