Catherine Strunk Amatruda

The embryology of behavior : the beginnings of the human mind

Preface 1. The search for beginnings 2. Birth and age 3. Zygote and embryo 4. The genesis of behaviour 5. The archaic motor system 6. The growth of fetal behaviour 7. Breathing behaviour 8. Muscle tonus 9. Electrotonic integration 10. The fetal-infant 11. The circumnatal infant 12. The diurnal cycle of sleep and wakeness 13. Species and individual 14. The dynamic morphology of behaviour 15. The hierarchical continuum A photographic delineation of behaviour patterns and growth sequences Appendices Selected references Index.

Current adoption practices.

Summary 1. The present study shows that thesocial agencies do better adoption placements than does the well-intentioned or expedient laity. 2. Agency adoption placements arewell done, on the whole, but they do not place enough babies, they do not satisfy enough adopting parents, and they work too slowly. Independent placements will continue as long as the agencies operate as they do now, which will certainly be until they have much more money and many more workers. 3. The probationary period shouldbe, among other things, an escape clause. It should be implemented not only by the power to remove the child from the home, but by the courage to do so when necessary in the childs behalf, over the protests of the adopting parents if need be. 4. Our efforts must continue to educatethe public, which will include potential adopting parents; lay persons who tend to become involved in arranging independent placements; the legislators who frame our laws; and the courts which render decisions on each adoption situation. Thus there will be a wider understanding of the great risks involved and of what constitutes good, safe, and decent practice. 5. The alternative to a bad adoption placement is not homelessness or the orphanage but a good placement.