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Gail F. Melson Ph.D.

About

Gail F. Melson, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. She received a Ph.D in Developmental Psychology from Michigan State University. She has been an active researcher on child development and family relationships for over thirty years. Her books include Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children (Harvard University Press, 2001); Child Development: Individual, Family, and Society (West, 1988, with Alan Fogel); and Origins of Nurturance: Developmental, Biological, and Cultural Perspectives on Caregiving (Erlbaum, 1986, with Alan Fogel) as well as over sixty scholarly articles and book chapters. Her research centers on children's development, especially the role of animals, nature, and technology. She lectures and consults widely on these topics.

Books by Gail F. Melson Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Child Development in the Trump Age

What are children and teens absorbing in this tumultuous political climate? A look at political socialization research may provide some clues.

What are children and teens absorbing in this tumultuous political climate? A look at political socialization research may provide some clues.

The Children Speak

Were you moved by the children marching for action on the climate crisis? Research on children's environmental morality may give us hope.

Were you moved by the children marching for action on the climate crisis? Research on children's environmental morality may give us hope.

A Disconnected Summer?

As screens proliferate, they are crowding out other activities for children. Can summer be a time to disconnect?

As screens proliferate, they are crowding out other activities for children. Can summer be a time to disconnect?

Brave New Tech

Interactive and intelligent robots challenge us to explore how they are changing children's behavior and thinking. What does it mean to have attributes of both life and artifact?

Interactive and intelligent robots challenge us to explore how they are changing children's behavior and thinking. What does it mean to have attributes of both life and artifact?

Coping with PSS (Political Stress Syndrome)

Children are not immune when politics turns toxic. PSS may not be a real syndrome, but I am more convinced than ever that political stress is finding its way into children’s lives.

Children are not immune when politics turns toxic. PSS may not be a real syndrome, but I am more convinced than ever that political stress is finding its way into children’s lives.

When a Pet Dies

An estimated 80 percent of children first encounter death and permanent loss of a loved one when a pet dies. Yet, we know little about this experience.

An estimated 80 percent of children first encounter death and permanent loss of a loved one when a pet dies. Yet, we know little about this experience.