A study of the patterns of child care in deprived subcultures and their relationships to ego development is the aim of the newly designated Project on Normal Early Child Development of the American Psychoanalytic Association. The project, headed by Dr. Eleanor Pavenstedt, has been organized under the auspices of the Committee on Social Problems, chaired by Dr. Robert Dorn. They hope for participation of analysts in many localities as well as experienced professionals who can contribute knowledge of child-rearing and child-caring practices among deprived groups, especially Negroes and Puerto Ricans. The study will emphasize the period from birth to age 3 years.
Following a suggestion made by Dr. Jean Spurlock at the APsaA meeting in December, 1968, the Sub-Committee will be organized into a series of topic task forces. Suggested topics were: Child-rearing practices, especially as related to the mother and “stranger-caretakers”; how children are taught to speak, correlated with the role of speech in ego development; practices contributing to the sense of self and ego identity; the role of the mother or “stranger-caretaker” in the confrontation with reality; behavior regulation and organization as functions in promoting ego development; manifestations and modifications of aggression and their relation to learning; and the incidence and impact of separation anxiety.
The topic study groups will make
extensive surveys of the psychoanalytic literature and that of research in child development; the literature will be correlated with the observations of analysts who have direct experience with the deprived groups.
The Sub-Committee hopes to publish its findings by the Fall of 1970. While it recognizes that there is some urgency in providing information to the many non-professional care-takers who are in charge of the nation's children, the committee does not see them as the primary target of this communication. Psychoanalytic concepts and research findings, it was noted, no matter how carefully formulated, are easily misunderstood unless interpreted or taught by psychoanalysts. The goal, therefore, is a publication which will encourage analysts to use their experience and skills to work as teachers and consultants for the persons directly involved in the care of the children, in such a way as to be comprehensible and to arouse minimal discomfort and resistance.
Colleagues who wish to participate in this study may contact Dr. Robert Dorn or Dr. Eleanor Pavenstedt.