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A fundamental contribution to understanding growth and development has been made by the authors. The book shows clearly the interrelationship of physical, mental, and emotional development. Not all they have said is entirely new, but the value of this book is that it is specific, that it is based on the actual observation of many mothers and their infants by a number of trained observers. The value of the observation is further
enhanced as the authors add the authoritative opinion of others in the field.
It is particularly impressive that the reader can watch the development of the infant from month to month and can distinguish specific periods of change common to all infants. Yet, while the authors describe specific developmental needs, they also show the possible variations of personality development.
The authors prove once more the importance of good mothering—the availability of the mother during early stages in the infant's development and her readiness to permit the child to separate and become his own individual; it is not only what the mother does that helps the child but what the mother is—her total personality. Her availability when needed and her confidence in her infant's ability to enjoy new achievements in growth develop into the internalized mother that will help the infant separate without anxiety. The description of the many children and their relationship to their mothers—the struggle that separation brings to the infants—is so vividly described that this book could be of value to all who deal with children.
The authors describe the deficits in maternal care that already early in life can lead to anxiety, withdrawal, and arrested ego development. This information should be of special value to all who treat borderline psychotic children and their parents. This book is essential to all students of human behavior.