In 1974 the American Psychoanalytic Association convened the Conference on Psychoanalytic Education and Research (COPER), at which nine preparatory commissions exchanged position statements. The Preparatory Commission on Child Analysis proposed a developmental orientation, and this led to considerable discussion and debate (see Goodman, 1977). The purpose of these essays in Psychoanalysis and Contemporary Thought is to present the developmental orientation to a wider audience and to bring together current contributions from some who find it useful.

Although the essays will not be polemical, it seems appropriate at the outset to attempt a perspective on some of the early debate, and, following that, to summarize some clarifying questions which have emerged since that time as a wider group of analysts have viewed the initial COPER report. A brief excerpt of the report itself will add further background for the essays.