This essay explores procedural and discursive ways in which psychological research idealizes infancy. These include the neglect of infant negativity, the overestimation of the infant’s understanding of others, the failure to explore the prevalence of conflict and ambivalence in mothers and the abstraction of mother and baby from their social context. It is argued that these features of research force a reconsideration of child psychology as a domain governed by the values of truth and falsehood. The idealization of infancy suggests that research in this area should rather be read as having an allegorical significance.

Keywords:
Anxiety, Bias, Child-centredness, Critical theory, Development, Idealization, Infancy, Negativity
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1991 S. Karger AG, Basel
1991
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.