THE CONCEPT OF CHILDHOOD THROUGHOUT HISTORY

Abstract

This article addresses the evolution of the concept of childhood throughout history, focusing on Western industrial countries, including Brazil, and its integration into Human Development Psychology. It is noteworthy that the perception of childhood is a social construct, varying significantly according to sociocultural contexts. Childhood in Antiquity and the Middle Ages lacked distinction, with the child seen as a miniature adult. Only in the Modern Age, with the dissemination of biblical discourses, did a change occur, highlighting the importance of family ties and creating a “sense of childhood”. From the perspective of Human Development Psychology, childhood comprises three domains: physical, cognitive and psychosocial development. The division of the life cycle into periods is a social construction. It is concluded that the concept of childhood has evolved over time, reflecting social and cultural transformations, becoming central in the constitution of the family and in contemporary society.