Introduction

On March 23, 1985, the occasion of the Annual Karen Horney Lecture, a symposium on “Early Childhood Development: Implications for Analytic Theory and Practice” was sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis in conjunction with the American Institute for Psychoanalysis. This issue includes a paper by Dr. Stella Chess, who was the 33rd Annual Karen Horney Lecturer, and discussions of her paper by Drs. Sibylle K. Escalona and Peter H. Wolff.

Essentially, there emerged an approaching consensus regarding the multiple interactive variables that impact on the developing child. However, the subsequent knotty theoretical and clinical issues which ensue regarding the correlation with later adult behavior was highlighted. Thus a clearer focus on the divergent issues and the sharing of exciting new ideas resulted.

Dr. Stella Chess’ paper gave a comprehensive overview of recent research regarding early infant competencies and individuality of development. Her points regarding the influence of parent-child behaviors and attitudes on each other provided us with much thoughtful and provocative discussion. “Accepted” theories regarding the impact of early life experiences were challenged. Late childhood, adolescence, and adult life were accorded more appropriate importance. Particularly noteworthy were her concepts of temperament and “goodness of fit” models of parent-child behaviors and attitudes. Although they were not addressed at the symposium, one might wonder about the parallels of “goodness of fit” to the patient-analyst in the therapeutic situation, e.g., as seen in transference and countertransference, as well as the relationship of “goodness of fit” to Horney's concept of idealized image. Dr. Chess’ emphasis that early behavior disorders may be changed by later events in life will remind the reader of the relevance to Horney's theory of personality and neurosis, which allows for the possibility of change throughout one's life.