Peter K. Smith

Adolescence is a turbulent period to live through, and a time of importance and concern to parents, teachers, and social workers. Marking the transition from the world of childhood to adult life, the adolescent faces many challenges and opportunities, including forming their own identity, relating to often conflicting demands from parents and peers, and negotiating first romantic relationships. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter K. Smith provides an engaging and informative overview of what we know and what we are learning about adolescence. Including both a guide to the classical research that has informed our knowledge, as well as the results of the modern research into the contemporary adolescent experience, Smith examines a number of aspects of adolescence, including the cultural and historical context, the biological changes to the adolescent brain, and the controversies that adolescence brings. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Based on an extensive national research project with global relevance, this pioneering volume draws on unique data on bullying in youth sports training collected from both athletes and coaches using a variety of methodological approaches. Nery, Neto, Rosado and Smith use this research to establish a baseline of the prevalence of bullying among young male athletes, offering evidence-based strategies for prevention and providing a solid theoretical basis for the development of anti-bullying intervention programs. Bullying in Youth Sports Training explores how often bullying occurs, how long it lasts, where and when bullying takes place, the coping strategies used by victims, and the individual roles of victims, bystanders and bullies. It provides new insights into theories of youth sport bullying and highlights the particular characteristics specific to bullying in sport. The backgrounds of bullies and victims are also explored, as well as the consequences and practical implications of sustained bullying. The book provides both theoretical and practical approaches to bullying in youth sport training, providing anti-bullying guidelines based on the results of the research.The book is essential reading for scholars and students in child development and sport sciences as well as sports coaches and professionals in mental health, education and social work.

Based on an extensive national research project with global relevance, this pioneering volume draws on unique data on bullying in youth sports training collected from both athletes and coaches using a variety of methodological approaches. Nery, Neto, Rosado and Smith use this research to establish a baseline of the prevalence of bullying among young male athletes, offering evidence-based strategies for prevention and providing a solid theoretical basis for the development of anti-bullying intervention programs. Bullying in Youth Sports Training explores how often bullying occurs, how long it lasts, where and when bullying takes place, the coping strategies used by victims, and the individual roles of victims, bystanders and bullies. It provides new insights into theories of youth sport bullying and highlights the particular characteristics specific to bullying in sport. The backgrounds of bullies and victims are also explored, as well as the consequences and practical implications of sustained bullying. The book provides both theoretical and practical approaches to bullying in youth sport training, providing anti-bullying guidelines based on the results of the research.The book is essential reading for scholars and students in child development and sport sciences as well as sports coaches and professionals in mental health, education and social work.

Why do children get involved with bullying? Does cyberbullying differ from traditional bullying? How can bullying at school be prevented?The Psychology of School Bullying explores what bullying is and what factors lead to children playing roles as bullies, victims, defenders, bystanders or even some combination of these The book examines proactive strategies to reduce the likelihood of bullying happening in school, but also looks at what action the school could take if bullying incidents do occur.As bullying can have such far-reaching consequences and sometimes tragic outcomes, it is vital to grasp how and why it happens, and The Psychology of School Bullying shows how improved knowledge and understanding can lead to effective interventions.

Why do children get involved with bullying? Does cyberbullying differ from traditional bullying? How can bullying at school be prevented?The Psychology of School Bullying explores what bullying is and what factors lead to children playing roles as bullies, victims, defenders, bystanders or even some combination of these The book examines proactive strategies to reduce the likelihood of bullying happening in school, but also looks at what action the school could take if bullying incidents do occur.As bullying can have such far-reaching consequences and sometimes tragic outcomes, it is vital to grasp how and why it happens, and The Psychology of School Bullying shows how improved knowledge and understanding can lead to effective interventions.

Understanding Children's Development is the UK's best-selling developmental psychology textbook and has been widely acclaimed for its international coverage and rigorous research-based approach. This dynamic text emphasizes the practical and applied implications of developmental research. It begins by introducing the ways in which psychologists study developmental processes before going on to consider all major aspects of development from conception through to adolescence.

'This extraordinarily comprehensive book authored by the leading international authority in the field integrates research, theory and practice on the topic of school bullying. In an already research saturated field Peter Smith’s writing captures the humanity of why this topic strikes such a chord in the community. He reminds us in a thoughtful, practical and caring manner why we must continue to advocate on all levels for those impacted by bullying.' -Professor Phillip T. Slee, Flinders University, Australia 'Understanding School Bullying offers a refreshingly clear account of the wealth of insights gained over a quarter of a century of research. As Smith’s comprehensive review convincingly shows, much has been learned and much of this has been put to good use in improving children’s wellbeing. This is surely essential reading for any researcher concerned with bullying, childhood or life at school.' -Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, author of Children, Risk and Safety Online 'Peter Smith’s new book will occupy a prominent place on my bookshelf. It provides a thorough and highly readable discussion of the breadth of research on school bullying. Dr. Smith includes discussions of important challenges related to research on this topic along with an excellent review of important studies and findings. This unique volume has influenced my thinking about the direction of my own research. The book will be an invaluable resource for researchers, consumers of research, and others who seek a research-based understanding of this important topic.' -Sheri Bauman, Ph.D., Professor at University of Arizona Bullying involves the repeated abuse of power in relationships. Bullying in schools can blight the lives of victims and damage the climate of the school. Over the last 25 years a burgeoning research program on school bullying has led to new insights into effective ways of dealing with it, as well as new challenges such as the advent of cyberbullying. This new book, by a leading international expert on the topic, brings together the cumulative knowledge acquired and the latest research findings in the area, with a global perspective especially covering research in Europe, North America, Australasia, and Asia. It will appeal to those taking academic courses in psychology, social work, educational psychology, child clinical psychology and psychiatry, and teacher training, but it will also be of interest to parents and teachers.

'This extraordinarily comprehensive book authored by the leading international authority in the field integrates research, theory and practice on the topic of school bullying. In an already research saturated field Peter Smith’s writing captures the humanity of why this topic strikes such a chord in the community. He reminds us in a thoughtful, practical and caring manner why we must continue to advocate on all levels for those impacted by bullying.' -Professor Phillip T. Slee, Flinders University, Australia 'Understanding School Bullying offers a refreshingly clear account of the wealth of insights gained over a quarter of a century of research. As Smith’s comprehensive review convincingly shows, much has been learned and much of this has been put to good use in improving children’s wellbeing. This is surely essential reading for any researcher concerned with bullying, childhood or life at school.' -Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, author of Children, Risk and Safety Online 'Peter Smith’s new book will occupy a prominent place on my bookshelf. It provides a thorough and highly readable discussion of the breadth of research on school bullying. Dr. Smith includes discussions of important challenges related to research on this topic along with an excellent review of important studies and findings. This unique volume has influenced my thinking about the direction of my own research. The book will be an invaluable resource for researchers, consumers of research, and others who seek a research-based understanding of this important topic.' -Sheri Bauman, Ph.D., Professor at University of Arizona Bullying involves the repeated abuse of power in relationships. Bullying in schools can blight the lives of victims and damage the climate of the school. Over the last 25 years a burgeoning research program on school bullying has led to new insights into effective ways of dealing with it, as well as new challenges such as the advent of cyberbullying. This new book, by a leading international expert on the topic, brings together the cumulative knowledge acquired and the latest research findings in the area, with a global perspective especially covering research in Europe, North America, Australasia, and Asia. It will appeal to those taking academic courses in psychology, social work, educational psychology, child clinical psychology and psychiatry, and teacher training, but it will also be of interest to parents and teachers.

What would make anti-bullying initiatives more successful? This book offers a new approach to the problem of school bullying. The question of what constitutes a useful theory of bullying is considered and suggestions are made as to how priorities for future research might be identified. The integrated, systemic model of school bullying introduced in this book is based on four qualitative studies and incorporates theory from systemic thinking; cognitive, social, developmental and psychoanalytic psychology; sociology, socio-biology and ethology. The possible functions served by bullying behaviour are explored. Consideration is also given to the potential role of unconscious as well as conscious processes in bullying. The model suggests a number of causal processes within one-to-one relationships and peer groups, and highlights factors within individuals and schools that shape the form, intensity and duration of bullying behaviour in practice. The issue of 'difference' is also addressed, focusing on childhood deafness.

This book was originally published in 1980. At the time of publication the importance of the preschool years in a child's development and education had been recognised by educationalists, psychologists, and indeed parents, and there was a corresponding commitment to expand and improve nursery and playgroup facilities for preschool children. Yet, despite this recognition, there had been little sustained experimental work designed to examine the effects and importance of resources and their deployment in preschool institutions. The details of Peter Smith and Kevin Connolly's research are set out in full and its implications carefully drawn and related to other work in the field. The authors write with precision and clarity, and their research became required reading for developmental psychologists, educationalists, those interested in the effects of the environment upon behaviour and others involved in the administration and provision of nurseries and playgroups.

The role of play in child development is a source of ongoing interest and debate. In this book, renowned expert Peter Smith offers an expansive definition of the term “play”, taking an in-depth look at its impact on children, as well as its adaptive value for birds and mammals, including primates. Using both contemporary and classic research, Smith examines how different age groups and sexes participate in a wide variety of play, including exercise and rough-and- tumble play, fantasy play and imaginary friends, and play with objects. The book gauges the function of play in early childhood education and makes the case for and against recess breaks in school. How play occurs in different societies and among various populations – including children with special needs – is also explored. With its comprehensive coverage of theoretical, historical, cross-cultural, and evolutionary perspectives, Children and Play holds significant insights for parents, educators, and clinicians.

The role of play in child development is a source of ongoing interest and debate. In this book, renowned expert Peter Smith offers an expansive definition of the term “play”, taking an in-depth look at its impact on children, as well as its adaptive value for birds and mammals, including primates. Using both contemporary and classic research, Smith examines how different age groups and sexes participate in a wide variety of play, including exercise and rough-and- tumble play, fantasy play and imaginary friends, and play with objects. The book gauges the function of play in early childhood education and makes the case for and against recess breaks in school. How play occurs in different societies and among various populations – including children with special needs – is also explored. With its comprehensive coverage of theoretical, historical, cross-cultural, and evolutionary perspectives, Children and Play holds significant insights for parents, educators, and clinicians.

Gives a succinct and authoritative account of research into the nature and extent of bullying in schools, evaluating the success of different approaches to the problem.

Gives a succinct and authoritative account of research into the nature and extent of bullying in schools, evaluating the success of different approaches to the problem.