GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEGRO INFANTS

[摘要] The time of occurrence of 12 neuromuscular patterns of behavior in the development of 2 groups of Negro infants from different socio-economic levels during the first year of life is presented. The Negro infants from the clinic showed acceleration over the Negro infants from private practice in their development from the 8th to the 35th week of life, after which time, the development of the 2 groups was essentially the same.The Negro infants as a group showed acceleration in their development when compared with a group of white infants studied in a similar manner by Aldrich except in 2 patterns, "smiling" and "vocalization." A marked similarity was noted during the first 30 weeks of life in the development of the white and Negro infants from private practice whose socio-economic backgrounds were substantially similar.The differences and similarities observed in the neuromuscular behavior in the 3 groups studied may be attributed mainly to environmental factors. The observed acceleration in the Negro infants is apparently an expression of greater permissiveness in daily care as practiced by the mothers or mother substitutes in the lower socio-economic classes.

[学科分类] 儿科学