Investigation of toy phenomenon in western psychology

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Abstract

The article reviews the latest foreign psychological studies of toys. It presents the thematic variety of these studies and also different levels of analysis of the problem in the question. In terms of socio-cultural approach to toy it is regarded as a text, as a secondary artifact presenting real objects and tools. Some articles in this review are devoted to the problem of choosing toys in conditions of a contemporary market-oriented society. Some articles in this review, analyzing the historical background of toys, compare those of a past age with present time toys. In some studies the role of certain kinds of toys (like construction kits or doll's houses) in child's life is discussed. The review also presents children's gender preferences in choice of toys.

General Information

Keywords: play; children; toys; investigations; gender preferences

Journal rubric: Developmental Psychology and Age-Related Psychology

Article type: review article

For citation: Smirnova E.O., Sokolova M.V., Sheina E.G. Investigation of toy phenomenon in western psychology [Elektronnyi resurs]. Sovremennaia zarubezhnaia psikhologiia = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 2012. Vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 26–39. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Elena O. Smirnova, Doctor of Psychology, Рrofessor of the Department of Preschool Pedagogics and Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology of Education, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia

Mariya V. Sokolova, PhD in Psychology, Associated professor. Faculty of Advance Training, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: sokolovamw@mail.ru

Elena G. Sheina, lecturer at the Department of Preschool Pedagogy and Psychology, Faculty of Psychology of Education, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3723-812X, e-mail: leshgp@gmail.com

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