Richard Q. Bell

ACTIVITY IN THE HUMAN NEWBORN

The activity shown by a newborn is one of several aspects of his functioning which have evoked the interest of mothers, nurses, pediatricians, and research workers. Theories differing as greatly as psychoanalysis and Watsonian Behaviorism have attempted to support important theoretical propositions, using assumptions concerning the nature of this activity. Individual differences have been seen as possible clues to later development. This report will briefly trace the history of the concept, summarize relevant research, and describe an analysis of data carried out by the authors. The first two weeks of life will be referred to as the newborn period.