A striking feature of many studies of the psychological development of the individual is their recourse to explanations of a social nature. This 1984 volume is centrally situated in this tradition of research, and its authors no longer view the child and adolescent as passively modelled by socializing processes but, rather, as actively constructing their own identity through interaction with the social environment. The volume includes studies of early interaction patterns from both ethological and sociological viewpoints; of reciprocity and directiveness in early socialization techniques; of the development of language in interaction settings; of the role of social factors in cognitive development; of the impact of the social and the cultural environment on adolescents; and finally, of the socialization process in relation to the world of work. This wide-ranging and authoritative survey will be of interest to psychologists and professionals working in education and the social services.