Introduction. Infancy and education: The ups and downs of a neglected relationship

  • Brian Hopkins
Article
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Abstract

This introductory paper considers the historical changes that have taken place in society’s views of infacy and education. Since the 18th century these views have alternated between Lockean and Rousseaun visions of childhood and child care, particularly in the United States. The post-Darwinian revolution gave Rousseau’s vision its biological roots although they were nearly uprooted by the intrusion of Watson’s behaviourism. Today, in both Europe and America, Rousseau’s child has been restored as an object of scientific interest and as a subject of parental education. However, Watson’s influence lingers on in misguided and potentially harmful attempts to train «super-babies». While much is now known about infant developement, this knowledge is not matched by an understanding of human parenting. Papousek’s concept of intuitive parenting offers important insights into understanding the role of parents as educators during infancy. On this basis, education during infacy is defined as the psychology of intuitively-assisted development. The paper concludes with a brief overview of the contents of this special issue.

Keywords

Educational Practice Early Education Biological Root Extended Family System Petite Enfance 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Petite enfance et éducation: un rapport fluctuant

Résumé

Cette introduction traite des changements de perspective intervenus, au cours de l’histoire, sur la toute petite enfance et son éducation. Depuis le 18ème siècle, en particulier aux Etats-Unis, la vision de l’enfance et de la prise en charge éducative est passée de celle de Locke à celle de Rousseau. Bien que la révolution post-darwinienne ait donné aux conceptions de Rousseau leurs fondements biologiques, l’intérêt pour ces derniers c’est trouvé éclipsé par le behaviorisme de Watson. Actuellement, en Europe comme aux États-Unis, la vision rousseauiste a repris de l’importance, aussi bien à propos des études scientifiques sur l’enfant que des pratiques parentales. Cependant, l’influence de Watson subsiste dans certaines tentatives peu judicieuses et potenciellement dangereuses de former des «super bébés». Bien que l’on sache maintenant beaucoup de choses sur le développement de l’enfant, notre compréhension des pratiques parentales demeure insuffisante. Le concept d’«intuitive parenting» proposé par Papousek permet un renouvellement fécond dans la compréhension du rôle éducatif des parents pendant la toute petite enfance. Sur cette base, on considère actuellement l’éducation du nourrisson dans la perspective d’une psychologie de l’assistance intuitive des parents au développement de l’enfant. Le texte introductif s’achève par une brève présentation du contenu du numéro spécial.

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Copyright information

© Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal/ Springer Netherlands 1989

Authors and Affiliations

  • Brian Hopkins
    • 1
  1. 1.Dept. Educational Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement SciencesFree UniversityAmsterdamthe Netherlands

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