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Regression Periods in Human infancy

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Regression periods play a central role in the psychological development of the human baby. Studies of infants have identified 10 periods of regression, or a return to a high frequency of mother-infant contact, within the first 20 months of life. These periods of emotional insecurity in the child signal forthcoming periods of developmental advance and the emergence of an array of new skills as a consequence of parent-infant conflict over body contact and the renegotiation of old privileges.

Although the basic idea in this book is an old one, the authors believe that regression periods deserve further study and have identified four questions of central importance today:

*Can the phenomenon of regression periods as found by Dutch researchers in 1992 be replicated in other countries and cultures?

*What environmental conditions have an effect on these regression periods and how?

*Are there physical conditions in infants that show a non-linear distribution over age similar to regression periods?

*Have brain changes been detected since the review of Fischer & Rose (1994) at other ages than the six reported by them, and, if yes, how do these relate to the ages at which regression periods are found?

Forming the core of this book, the replication studies performed in Sweden, Spain, and England provide support that regression periods are a rreliable phenomenon and should be dealt with accordingly whenever developmental processes in infancy are discussed.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface. M. Heimann, Regression Periods in Human Infancy: An Introduction. M. Sadurni, C. Rostan, Reflections on Regression Periods in the Development of Catalan Infants. A. Woolmore, J. Richer, Detecting Infant Regression Periods: Weak Signals in a Noisy Environment. L.B. Lindahl, M. Heimann, E. Ullstadius, Occurrence of Regressive Periods in the Normal Development of Swedish Infants. F.X. Plooij, H.H.C. van de Rijt-Plooij, The Effect of Sources of "Noise' on Direct Observation Measures of Regression Periods: Case Studies of Four Infants' Adaptations to Special Parental Conditions. F.X. Plooij, H.H.C. van de Rijt-Plooij, J.M. van der Stelt, B. van Es, R. Helmers, Illness Peaks During Infancy and Regression Periods. F.X. Plooij, H.H.C. van de Rijt-Plooij, R. Helmers, Multimodal Distribution of SIDS and Regression Periods. C. Trevarthen, K. Aitken, Regulation of Brain Development and Age-Related Changes in Infants' Motives: The Developmental Function of Regressive Periods. F.X. Plooij, The Trilogy of Mind.