| Abstract: | Uses D. O. Hebb's (1966) codification of developmental factors to define maturation. The significance of a maturational diagnosis for investigators interested in questions focused on either phylogeny, natural selection, ontogeny, or proximal causes is discussed. The adequacy of 2- and 4-group experimental designs and the observation criteria of universality, sequentiality, and peculiar adaptiveness for diagnosing maturationally determined responses are evaluated. Initial maturational readiness is defined and related to both applied and theoretical problems in developmental psychology. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
