Norms in Human Development (Paperback)

Leslie Smith

ISBN 10: 0521103290 / ISBN 13: 9780521103299

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2009

About this Item

Paperback. The distinction between norms and facts is long-standing in providing a challenge for psychology. Norms exist as directives, commands, rules, customs and ideals, playing a constitutive role in human action and thought. Norms lay down 'what has to be' (the necessary, possible or impossible) and 'what has to be done' (the obligatory, the permitted or the forbidden) and so go beyond the 'is' of causality. During two millennia, norms made an essential contribution to accounts of the mind, yet the twentieth century witnessed an abrupt change in the science of psychology where norms were typically either excluded altogether or reduced to causes. The central argument in this book is twofold. Firstly, the approach in twentieth-century psychology is flawed. Secondly, norms operating interdependently with causes can be investigated empirically and theoretically in cognition, culture and morality. Human development is a norm-laden process. The distinction between norms and facts is long-standing in providing a challenge for psychology. The central argument in this book is twofold. Firstly, the approach in twentieth-century psychology is flawed. Secondly, norms operating interdependently with causes can be investigated empirically and theoretically in cognition, culture and morality. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780521103299

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Norms in Human Development (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521103290
• ISBN 13: 9780521103299
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The distinction between norms and facts is long-standing in providing a challenge for psychology. Norms exist as directives, commands, rules, customs and ideals, playing a constitutive role in human action and thought. Norms lay down 'what has to be' (the necessary, possible or impossible) and 'what has to be done' (the obligatory, the permitted or the forbidden) and so go beyond the 'is' of causality. During two millennia, norms made an essential contribution to accounts of the mind, yet the twentieth century witnessed an abrupt change in the science of psychology where norms were typically either excluded altogether or reduced to causes. The central argument in this book is twofold. Firstly, the approach in twentieth-century psychology is flawed. Secondly, norms operating interdependently with causes can be investigated empirically and theoretically in cognition, culture and morality. Human development is a norm-laden process.

About the Authors

Leslie Smith is Professor Emeritus, Lancaster University and is currently based in the Lake District as a freelance researcher.

Jacques Vonèche is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Geneva and Director of the Archives Jean Piaget.