Early Experiences and Early Behavior

Early Experiences and Early Behavior: Implications for Social Development discusses the problems associated with determining the effects of early experiences on later behavior, with emphasis on social development, both in humans and in animals. The overall approach is one of constructive criticism, in that specific problems in methodology and conceptualization are highlighted and promising new approaches are suggested and illustrated.
The book is divided into two parts. Part I deals with methodological, theoretical, and conceptual problems: Recurring problems of methodology and definition are specified; a thorough review of the animal literature in early experiences studies over the past quarter of a century pinpoints certain areas of progress among many other areas where advances have been sparse; and two newer approaches are discussed and supported, namely behavioral metamorphosis and the interactional-developmental approach. Part II presents two case studies which serve to exemplify a variety of older and newer approaches to the investigation of the effects of early experiences on social development.

Contenu

List of Contributors
Preface
Part I Methodological, Theoretical, and Conceptual Issues: Problems and Promise
Chapter 1 The Effects of Early Experiences on Later Behavior: A Critical Discussion
Early Experiences and Early Behaviors
Early Experiences and Prior Experiences
The Problem of Causality
Summary
References
Chapter 2 Behavioral Metamorphosis in Mammalian Development
Behavioral Development in the Dog
Behavioral Development in Mammals
Effects of Early Experience
References
Chapter 3 Effects of Early Experience upon the Behavior of Animals: The Second Twenty-Five Years of Research
Relative Progress in Different Areas of Early Experience Research
Some Lessons from the Second Twenty-Five Years: Characteristics Associated with Slow Progress
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4 The Dynamics of Social Development
A Dynamic View of Social Development
Goals of the Interactional-Developmental Approach
Social Development in Children: Some Recent Findings
Some Implications for Understanding the Effects of Early Experience
A Final Comment
References
Part II Early Behavior and Social Development: Case Studies
Chapter 5 Parent-Neonate Interaction and Its Long-Term Effects
Origins and Background
Problems of Methodology
Early Postnatal Contact and Mother-Infant Interaction during Breast Feeding Thirty-Six Hours after Delivery
Synchrony in the Development of Parent-Infant Interaction following Early Post-Partum Contact
Discussion and Speculations
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
References
Chapter 6 Early Development of Exploratory Behavior and Dominance in Three Litters of German Shepherds
Two Kinds of Dominance
Rearing Environment
Method: Exploratory Behavior
Results: Exploratory Behavior
Method: Competitive Dominance
Results: Competitive Dominance
Stimulus Reactivity and Competitive Dominance
Social Dominance: Litter 1
Conclusions
References
Author Index
Subject Index