COHERENCE OF INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT - EARLY CARE, ATTACHMENT, AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES

Early development may be described in terms of a series of salient issues (regulating arousal, establishing an effective attachment relationship, moving toward autonomous functioning, establishing peer relations). The quality of individuals' functioning with respect to these issues may be assessed reliably. Such qualitative assessments yield strong predictions of later behavior. Children functioning well during the infancy period are more competent as toddlers and preschoolers, and there is a logic and coherence to the continuing pattern of adaptation shown by individuals. In various ways such continuity has been shown to be independent of IQ or temperament variation. Such continuity once again makes clear the importance of early experience and the need to examine public policy in light of this knowledge. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.