A
Alison Gopnik
The Scientist in the Crib
- Pages
- 304
- Published
- 2001
- Language
- English
Synopsis
This book explores the fascinating world of infant cognition, revealing how babies learn and understand the world around them. Drawing on cutting-edge research, it presents a new perspective on the minds of the very young. Discover the surprising ways infants engage in scientific inquiry, making sense of their experiences from the crib.
Genres
Frequently asked questions
What makes The Scientist in the Crib unique among books on child development?
This book is notable for its direct application of scientific methodology to understanding infant learning, framing babies as active experimenters rather than passive recipients of information. It integrates findings from cognitive science, developmental psychology, and philosophy to present a cohesive theory of how infants construct knowledge.
Is The Scientist in the Crib accessible to readers without a background in psychology?
The authors wrote this book for a broad audience, including parents, educators, and anyone interested in early childhood development, not just academics. While it discusses complex scientific concepts, it does so with clear explanations and relatable examples, avoiding overly technical jargon.
How does The Scientist in the Crib relate to the authors' other work?
This book is a foundational text that synthesizes the collaborative research of Gopnik, Meltzoff, and Kuhl, establishing many of the core ideas they would continue to explore individually and collectively in subsequent publications. It lays the groundwork for their later work on theory of mind, imitation, and language acquisition in infants.