Jean Mercer

Jean Mercer is a developmental psychologist, with a doctoral degree from Brandeis University. She taught infant and child development, statistics, experimental psychology, and history of psychology for many years at Stockton Uinversity in Galloway, NJ. Jean has two sons, two stepsons, and three grandsons, and finally got a granddaughter. Jean is currently Professor Emerita of Psychology at Stockton University.

Jean's earlier book, "Child Development: Myths & Misunderstandings", came out of her teaching experiences and her awareness of the things everybody knows, that don't happen to be true. She is pursuing the same issues on http://childmyths.blogspot.com.. She would like instructors who are considering using one of the "Myths & Misunderstandings" books to note the unpublished paper on childmyths.blogspot-- a discussion of the use of critical thinking concepts in teaching developmental psychology. The most recent edition of this book, "Thinking Critically About Child Development: Examining Myths and Misunderstandings" (Sage, 2020) was co-authored by Stehen Hupp and Jereney Jewell, who added much to the discussion of adolescents' issues.

Jean is also author of "Child Development" Concepts and Theories" (Sage, 20i8). This textbook follows the British pattern of focusing on the development of infants, toddlers, and school-age children without proceeding to discussion of adolescence. Other books by this author are "Attachment Therapy on Trial" (Praeger, 2003), with Larry Sarner and Linda Rosa, and "Alternative Psychotherapies" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014)

Most recent;y, Jean co-edited with the law professor Margaret Drew a volume entitled "Challenging Parental Alienation" (Routledge, 2022). This is the first book-length publication dealing with the highly problematic concept of parental alienation (the idea that when a child of divorced parents resists contact with one of the parents, it is a strong possibility that the preferred parent has "brainwashed" the child into resistance). Over the years since the parental alienation concept was first put forward, many lawyers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals have published arguments against it, but "Challenging Parental Alienation" is unique in bringing together recent analyses and statements from both legal and psychological experts. This book can provide essential information for parents who face allegations that they have "alienated" a child and who risk court orders prohibiting any contact with that child. Parents have found themselves in this position in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and we are seeing increasing numbers of cases in Latin America and the European Union.

Readers who are surprised at the highly variable ratings of Jean's books on Amazon should note that not everyone likes their myths and misunderstandings to be corrected!