The Psychology of Early Childhood

A Study of Mental Development in the First Years of Life

C.W. Valentine

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781138899452
• eBook ISBN: 9781317481157
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Educational Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Originally published in 1942, this title attempted to trace, from their very earliest appearances after birth, all aspects of mental development in childhood up to the age of about 4 or 5. It is based largely on the author's almost daily observations of his own five children, over a period of some twenty years, supplemented by numerous tests and experiments.

The first purpose of this book was to advance our knowledge of the psychology of childhood. The importance of such knowledge had become increasingly recognised. Even if not all is completely determined in the first 4-5 years, there was little doubt by this time that these first years are of profound significance for future development: and the better understanding and training of the young child may be at the root of many of our educational and social problems.

Index

In this book the indexing of names presents a peculiar difficulty ; for the detailed reports on children by Stem, Preyer, Shinn, D. R. Major, G. V. Dearborn, K. C. Moore, and Sully are cited on scores of pages, some of these having nearly a hundred references each. A list of a hundred page numbers by, say, Stern’s name would be of little value, and a complete index would be too cumbersome. I therefore only give the references to a few specially important conclusions quoted from some of these writers. The reader may assume, however, that he will find other references to some or all of these writers on almost any topic.

Abilities, special, appearance of, 10

Adler, A., 4, 19, 22, 306

Adoption of defective children, danger of, 4

Affection, 301

and love, 301

for animals and dolls, 306

inexplicable by association, 305

towards infants of similar age, 302

towards younger infants, 303

Albanian children as evidence for maturation, 45

‘Although’, early use of, 464

Anger, and distress, 268

earliest signs of, 266

growth and control of, 275

independent of pugnacity, 270

play at, 159

and pugnacity, 265

and pugnacity at, 1 ; o, 2 ; o and 3 ; o, 271

and pugnacity, sex differences in, 277

signs of at 1 ; o, 269

variations with age, 275

Animism, 153

in the idea of physical causation, 459

Anthropomorphism, in idea of physical causation, 459

Anticipatory developments, 55, 116

Apes, absence of imitation of speech among, 391

sympathy of, 299

Askar, R. M., 460

Associations, with colour, 357

first, 70

in the first year, 353

Associations, through one experie...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Original Title
• Dedication
• PREFACE
• CONTENTS
• PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
• I. INTRODUCTORY
• II. METHODS OF THE STUDY OF INFANT PSYCHOLOGY
• III. FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS IN MENTAL DEVELOPMENT: MATURATION, EXERCISE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
• IV. FURTHER ASPECTS OF MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
• V. ENDOWMENT AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE NEW-BORN INFANT
• VI. SPONTANEOUS MOVEMENTS AND THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTROL OF MOVEMENTS
• VII. THE EARLIEST EXPRESSIONS AND CAUSES OF FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS
• VIII. REFLEXES: THEIR DEVELOPMENT, VARIABILITY AND EVANESCENCE AND THEIR RELATION TO VOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS AND INSTINCTS
• IX. THE BEGINNINGS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PLAY
• X. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF IMITATION
• XI. THE INNATE BASES OF FEARS
• XII. GENETIC PSYCHOLOGY OF LAUGHTER
• XIII. SUGGESTION AND SUGGESTIBILITY
• XIV. ANGER AND PUGNACITY
• XV. SELF-ASSERTION, SUBMISSION, DISPLAY AND SHYNESS 279
• XVI. SYMPATHY AND AFFECTION
• XVII. AFFECTION FOR PARENTS AND THE SUPPOSED OEDIPUS COMPLEX
• XVIII. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEX AND SEX-INTERESTS IN INFANCY
• XIX. LEARNING AND REMEMBERING
• XX. THE BEGINNINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS OF LANGUAGE
• XXI. IDEATIONAL OR THOUGHT PROCESSES
• XXII. SOME SPECIAL ABILITIES AND IDEAS
• APPENDIX I. STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
• APPENDIX II. RIGHT- AND LEFT-HANDEDNESS
• APPENDIX III. THE EARLIEST DREAMS OF B
• INDEX