Routledge Retrospect and Prospect in the Psychological Study of Families

This book assembles 11 of the leading thinkers and researchers in the field of family psychology to create a compendium summarizing both what psychology researchers have learned about the family and where the field should be going next. It evolved after the volume's contributors met with other distinguished family scholars to discuss family influences on child development and to ponder how this knowledge could be used to benefit families and children. This volume includes approaches to the family that feature multiple levels and topics of focal interest to benefit anyone interested in the family. Central topics include mothering, fathering, marriages, family group processes, sibling relations, and families as systems. In addition, three senior authors offer road maps to detect, and suggest (a) challenges in research on parenting, (b) marital and family dynamics, and (c) family systems in the years ahead. In keeping with the theme of how research affects the lives of families outside the university lab settings, this volume includes a chapter on the interface between family research and law. This book closes with a "big picture" analysis and critique of what is known and not known. Psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists, and public policymakers interested in the family should especially find this volume of interest. Review "Social science theory and research weigh in on...politically loaded questions in Retrospect and Prospect in the Psychological Study of Families. Presenting chapters by eleven leading thinkers and researchers in the field of family psychology, this volume offers exciting new directions for future research."—Family Therapy "Presenting chapters by eleven leading thinkers and researchers in the field of family psychology, this volume offers exciting new directions for future research. Topics include mothering, fathering, marriages, family group processes, sibling relations, and families as systems. In addition, the book explores family influences on child development and discusses how this knowledge could be used to benefit families and children. A particularly innovative chapter covers the interface of family research and law, and a final chapter sets an agenda for research over the next decade.—Adolescence "Retrospect and Prospect in the Psychological Study of Families is a must-read for anyone who works with children and adolescents in the research or clinical setting....this book provides a compelling Preface and Foreward, thorough section introductions, and a compelling summary and commentary. It is obvious that the authors were well informed of each other's work. There is frequent citation between chapters, and authors have attempted to integrate their own work with that of the other authors. Given that this book was the result of a conference in honor of John Elderkin Bell (the father of family therapy), the synthesis and integration of topics is much appreciated. There are clear points that both family researchers and family therapists can take from this book to improve their work with families."—Contemporary Psychology APA REVIEW OF BOOKS About the Author James P. McHale (Edited by) ,  Wendy S. Grolnick (Edited by)