A sociological study of the dependent child.

For batter or for worse, the ordinary child is accepted into the normal home. He is something of an act of God. He is fate. He may be naughty, he may be mentally deficient, he may be personally unattractive, but he is an own child, is born into a family group, and from his first breath he is a part of that group. He grows up surrounded by the love andcare of his own parents and brothers and sisters. He belongs, he has a sense of security, and he has status. As he grows he acquires a consciousness of himself from the attitudes and actions of the members of his family. His first introduction to the world outside his immediate family circle is through his playmates. These are probably children more of his own age, and in this play group he finds a place for himself. His idea of himself becomes defined in terms now of his status in his family, and his status in his play group. Certain character traits, already partially formed by the family will be accentuated in the play group. [...