Encyclopedia of Human Development,（3 卷版）

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Encyclopedia of Human Development, 3 Volume Set (Hardcover)
by Neil J. Salkind (Editor)
$329.63

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Social evolution, human evolution, developmental psychology, and human behavior are the focus of this encyclopedia. The creation of a complete and thorough review of the cross-disciplinary topic of human development is ambitious; the editor and advisory board, as well as the distinguished list of more than 650 contributors, are to be credited with realizing this goal. A wide and general audience will find much to praise in this work, beginning with the entries themselves. Here are approximately 600 signed entries that range in length from 400 to 5,000 words and cover the life span, from birth and infancy, early childhood development and education, and adolescence to aging and older development. Here, too, are entries, as outlined in the topical "Reader's Guide," on "Intelligence, Ability, and Aptitude," "Language and Communications," and "Mental Health, Mental Disorders, and Special Groups," among others. See references and lists (including Web sites) for further reading and reference are attached to reviews. The encyclopedia is arranged in alphabetical order. The quotations that begin each letter section--a quote by Leonardo da Vinci on the subject of death serves as a header for the Ds, for example--are a nice touch. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that many of the entries are highly readable; indeed, readers might forget they are actually "in" an encyclopedia. The entry on Egocentrism begins with reflections on our everyday conception of the topic and then continues with a brief history of the concept--from Jean Piaget's pioneering work to information about more contemporary research within developmental psychology. Further along, the entry includes references to other important traditions in psychology that have also advanced our understanding of the topic. The writing is informative but not too scholarly or technical, accessible through and through. This entry, and many others, succeeds in capturing interest--readers will want to pursue references and suggestions for further reading. The set has several shortcomings. Some issues throughout the life span--health, family, cognition, physical development, language, self and gender, and personality, for example--are not as well covered as they might have been. Coverage of new frontiers, such as the legal, political, and economic dimensions of development as a human right, the cultural nature of human development, or millennium development goals, could also have been stronger. Entries on relevant social policy are also lacking. Stephen J. Farenga and Daniel Ness' Encyclopedia of Education and Human Development (Sharpe, 2005) provides some competition, although it focuses primarily on educational psychology. Overall, this set is recommended for academic and large public libraries, where students and general adult readers will find it to be an excellent "starting point." Scholars, practitioners, and researchers will need to turn to more focused and specialized works in their fields or areas of interest. Sarah Watstein

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

This fine reference work on a topic of general interest presents 650 well-researched, well-written entries that expand and supplement information found in related works across disciplines. It offers explanations, definitions, brief biographies, and connections among then in a highly readable text. (CHOICE 20060707)

"The creation of a complete and thorough review of the cross-disciplinary topic of human development is ambitious; the editor and advisory board, as well as the distinguished list of more than 650 contributors, are to be credited with realizing this goal. A wide and general audience will find much to praise in this work, beginning with the entries themselves. This set is recommended for academic and large public libraries where students and general adult readers will find it to be an excellent 'starting point'." (Sarah Watstein Reference Books Bulletin 20061102)

"College-level collections on human development must have this 3-volume set Encyclopedia of Human Development, which brings together social, psychological and physical sciences and provides an analysis of the changing world of the human condition associated with aging. The set will be a useful reference for any student of psychology or social development." (California Bookwatch )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1616 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc; 1 edition (October 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1412904757
• ISBN-13: 978-1412904759
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.4 x 5.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 pounds