The assumption of domain specificity has been invaluable to the study of the emergence of biological thought in young children. Yet, domains of thought must be understood within a broader context that explains how those domains relate to the surrounding cultures, to different kinds of cognitive constraints, to framing effects, to abilities to…

Toward the end of his life, George Herbert Mead developed a theory of perspectives that may be used to reinterpret his social, developmental psychology. This paper attempts such a reinterpretation, leading to the emergence of a theory of perspective taking in early childhood that looks quite different from that which is assumed in most extant work…

Reviews three articles in this journal on pretend play. Emphasizes that, although the articles are provocative, a wider range of processes must be considered for a comprehensive theory of pretense. Argues that a complete theory of mind must successfully explain how pretense develops and becomes a socially shared activity. (MM)

Reviews three articles in this journal on pretend play and focuses on the communicative activity through which social pretending is created. Suggests that, despite recent advances toward understanding techniques by which children construct make-believe, further examination of conversational exchanges and sequences of this complex activity is…

Suggests that the three articles on pretend play in this journal expand knowledge of pretend and social pretend play. Notes that the ultimate value of these articles lies in their exploration of the integration of affective, communicative, and cognitive processes as children construct shared social reality in pretend play. (MM)

The aim of this article is to propose a theorization of the father-child relationship based on our current understanding of attachment, interactions between fathers and their young children, and human-specific adaptations. The comparison of mother-child and father-child interactions suggests that fathers play a particularly important role in the…

Describes four kinds of pretend play inhibition observed in children from three to nine years of age. Proposes hypotheses regarding potential causes and developmental sequelae of pretend play difficulties, in both cognitive and socioaffective realms. Discusses the implications of children's pretend play inhibition for examining relationships…

Describes ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized attachment patterns. Proposes that avoidant individuals deactivate their attachment needs, have high sense of self efficacy, and prefer objects to people; ambivalent persons hyperactivate attachment needs, have low self-efficacy, and orient more to people; and disorganized/controlling individuals…

Considers evidence for continuity and discontinuity of attachment in four major longitudinal studies. Discusses the difficulty of constructing a critical test of the prototype and stable environment hypotheses for attachment continuity. Notes that intergenerational transmission of attachment has been only indirectly addressed. (KDFB)