Cognitive Basis of Social Interaction Across the Lifespan

Social interaction is an essential part of everyday life, and understanding and predicting events in terms of other people's mental states is crucial. This book explores how human social interactive abilities change across the lifespan, covering infancy, early and middle childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, adulthood, and older age. It provides an overview of the latest findings, contributes to key debates, and outlines innovative avenues for future research.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Social interaction is a crucial component of everyday life, and its success or failure has a profound impact on our well-being. Understanding and predicting events in terms of other people's mental states, known as Theory of Mind (ToM), is a vital part of successful social interaction. Children typically develop the necessary skills for social interaction around the age of four, and as healthy adults, we engage in social interactions frequently and seemingly effortlessly. This book explores how human social interactive abilities change throughout the lifespan, covering infancy, early and middle childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, adulthood, and older age, as well as healthy and atypical development.

Over nine chapters, leading researchers in the field provide an overview of the most recent findings, contribute to key debates on social phenomena (including their underlying mechanisms, environmental triggers, and neural basis), and outline innovative avenues for future research. Written in an accessible style, this book appeals to a wide range of readers, including academics and students of psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry, linguistics, and philosophy, as well as providing valuable insights for clinicians and practitioners working in the fields of social care, mental health, and education.

In conclusion, social interaction is a fundamental aspect of human life, and its success or failure has a significant impact on our overall well-being. By understanding and predicting events in terms of other people's mental states, we can enhance our social skills and build stronger relationships with others. This book provides valuable insights into the development of social interactive abilities throughout the lifespan and offers innovative avenues for future research and practice.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198843290