A definitive reference on intra- and inter-group processes across a range of age and cultural contexts

Children from infancy develop attachments to significant others in their immediate social environment, and over time become aware of other groups (e.g. gender, ethnicity, age, classroom, sports) that they do or do not belong to and why. Recent research shows that children’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviours are significantly influenced by these memberships and that the influence increases through childhood. This Handbook delivers the first comprehensive, international reference on this critical topic.

Adam Rutland is Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, UK. He was previously Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Child Development Unit and Centre for the Study of Group Processes at the University of Kent. His research examines the development of children's prejudice and social identities. He is the co-author of Children and Social Exclusion (Wiley, 2011).

Drew Nesdale is Emeritus Professor in the School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Australia. He was previously Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Western Australia. His research explores issues in social and developmental psychology including aggression and violence, intergroup prejudice and bullying. He has published three books and more than 100 papers.

Christia Spears Brown is Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Kentucky, USA. Her research, as part of the Children at Risk Research Center, examines children who are at academic, psychological and social risk because of social inequality. Her work on the impact of gender stereotypes on children and adolescents has been published widely.