IN THIS PAPER WE WANT to explore some ways in which cultural and social anthropology relates to the subject of transitional phenomena. Whereas others have considered an extension of Winnicott's theory away from its original focus on early childhood experience into patterns observable in adolescents or adults, we wish to extend outward from the spontaneous and private experience of the individual into the realm of culturally-formed patterns of symbolic activity, especially those relating to transitions and changes in culturally-defined identity.

In a review of the literature on infancy experiences in various cultural settings, we have found the following: