Temperament and Child Psychopathology

Temperament and Child Psychopathology examines research on child development and individual differences in relation to child functioning and psychopathology. The authors present alternative views of temperament and its role in child development and child-rearing. Important topics covered include genetic and psychosocial influence on development, and parent-child interaction. Longitudinal studies are presented and their implications for theory and practice are developed. The book is comprehensive in its coverage of research and practice, and raises substantive and methodological issues.

The temperament that appears early in life and subsequent psychopathology in childhood and adolescence are thoroughly examined in this insightful study. The authors discuss the multifaceted research on child development and individual differences in relation to child functioning and psychopathology. Alternative views of temperament as well as the role of temperament in child development and child rearing are traced. Important topics are carefully integrated, including developmental continuities in the lifespan, genetic and psychosocial influence on development, and parent-child interaction. In addition, classic longitudinal studies are presented and evaluated and their implications for theory and practice are developed. Unique in its breadth of coverage and remarkable balance in addressing research and practice, Temperament and Child Psychopathology conveys the significance of temperament in the study of child functioning in a highly readable manner. "Excellent book in an excellent series on developmental psychology and psychiatry. . .I can heartily recommend this book to trainees in the field, or to anybody interested in either temperamental development or personality development. The whole series can be recommended to libraries for reference, as the book has an excellent bibliography." --The British Journal of Psychiatry "Useful to readers who wish to obtain a broader based theoretical and empirical overview of the field of temperament, including particular attention to current knowledge about relations between temperament and behavior disorders, and application in clinical practice." --Journal of Clinical Child Psychology "Garrison & Earls provide a useful summary at the end of each chapter within which the major points are discussed. Overall, this is a well-presented, easy to read book with up-to-date research references." --Educational Psychology