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This paper looks at points of convergence and divergence between the different branches of cultural psychology and Burman's ideas in Deconstructing Developmental Psychology. The paper discusses the relationship between the developing ideas in cultural psychology over time and some of the shared theoretical and conceptual criticisms put forward in Deconstructing Developmental Psychology. This takes into account some of the differences between the symbolic approach, activity theory and an individualistic approach to cultural psychology. In turn, some of the bigger themes within the book are discussed, such as the role of 'normalisation' and demarcation of age, and studying the child in context and how these relate to the different account of cultural psychology and the influence these themes have had on the author's own work. Since this paper details a personal research journey, examples are taken from work on home–school mathematics education, child language brokering and young caring. Using these examples, the paper examines how cultural psychology is interested in the mediation between culture and the person, whilst Deconstructing Developmental Psychology asks us to question the stories and assumptions embedded within developmental psychology.

First published in 1964, Psychology and Social Problems looks at a changing society and research into problems of the time. Many of the themes in the book, such as delinquency, mental health and racial conflict, are still familiar and current topics of discussion today.Social scientists had carried out extensive research into problems of urgent public concern, yet their findings were not widely known or understood and they had often been diffident in advocating policies based on their conclusions. Michael Argyle discussed the recent psychological and social research bearing on the origins of a

"This book has been developed from two main theses which justify my venture into the field of social psychology. The first is that the visceral-organic structure of man is basic to the understanding of psychology. However extreme the assertion may seem, I think it fair to say that the thinkers who have formed the knowledge of mind in its largest and truest terms have been those who have shown the relationship of drive, emotions, and intelligence to the structures of the body, and vice versa. The second thesis is that apart from his group a man is a mere potentiality. He is developed in a milieu that fosters, modifies, or destroys his capacities. And how that milieu works, the psychiatrist and physician has ample opportunity to witness. To explain the individual and discuss his psychology as something distinct from the psychology of the society that daily becomes more complex and ranges from the remote past far into the future is, as the anatomists would say, a false dissection, by which structures are isolated from one another artificially and their organic connection destroyed. Therefore I have begun with the structure and organic functions of the individual and have endeavored to show how social forces, like the gases of the environment, sweep in and out of him--taking command of his viscera and transforming their functions into approved deeds, and creating within him both the pleasures of conformity and the bitter, self-dividing struggle that results from the disharmony of individual capacity and desire with social authority. While the facts presented are not new, the emphasis and formulation of principles are to a certain extent original, and they merit appreciative attention. I make no pretense of having fulfilled my aim completely, the shortcomings of my work being as discernible to me as to any critic; but withal, I hope and even feel assured that both the visceral-organic and the sociological bases of social psychology are here given the emphasis they deserve"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).

"Criminal Psychology examines the contributions that psychology is making to our understanding of criminals, the investigation of their crimes, processes in court and the management and treatment of offenders in prison. The psychological contributions to investigations are assessed with regard to interviewing and detecting deception as well as examining the nature and meaning of offender profiling. The role of psychologists as experts in court is reviewed, followed by a look at how psychologists work with prisoners. The psychology of the victim is also examined. The book concludes with a discussion of the future of crime and the growing contribution that psychology is making to understanding criminals and reducing their activities."--