Evening star., 1939-03-12
Parents Are Warned
Personality Begins
Shaping al Birth
Dr.. Ewerhurdt Gives
Second Lecture in
Chest Series

~ 49,
Chest Series
This is one of a series OF reekly
articles discussing activities OF
the Community Chest agencies.
This article is based on the sec
ond OF sir lectures to be giUen
bu an erecutiue of a Chest agency
on "A Mental Hygienist Looks
at Lite"
Mental hygiene in its relation to
the early months of life was dis
cussed by DR.. Paul J. EWerhardt
psychiatrist and executive of the
Washington Institute for Mental
Hygiene, in the second of series
of lectures before group of doc
tors, public health nurses and visit
ing nurses yesterday in the audito-
rum of the United States Public
Health Service.
The speaker emphasized that the
shaping of human personality be-
gins with birth-a fact which he
said should be remembered by those
associated directly with the medical
profession and such social workers
as those in Community Chest agen-
cies. Subsequent lectures in the Sc
ries will deal with personality de-
Velopment in other age groups.
I'VE must abandon the laissez
faire attitude that children just
grow up" said Dr.. EWerhardt. 1T
is in the earliest period of life that
the foundations are laid upon which
the future success or failure of a
human personality may rest.
Personality Pliable.
THE personality has structure
and, through complex processes
which are as vet only in part under
stood. doctors, nurses and social
workers can play a significant part
In the ultimate outcome.
Science has given us much data
regarding these early years, which
should be useful in practical appli-
cation"
Beginning his discussion with the
period before the birth of the child,
DR.. EUerhardt stated that maternal
health during this period is Of vital
importance.
Nor is the emotional well-being
of the mother to be dlSregarded. he
pointed out. Through the complex
forces which are integral part of
life it is reasonable to predicate
and this has some acceptance in
popular thought-that it is desir-
able for the eXpectant mother to
be happy and serene in the con-
temptation of the coming event.
Because of certain popular mis-
conceptions on the subject Of hered-
ity, many prospective and actual
parents are harassed and worried
about the mental hygiene" we'll
being of their child, DR.. EWerhardt
said.
Although the full nature of hered-
ity is not completely understood, DR..
EWerhardt said, there is an &C
cumulation of data that supports
the view that the environmental
milieu can and does measurably pre-
vent or modify inherent character
istics and prevent them from ex-
pressing themselves as such.
Shaped by Society.
Young infants are egotists, con-
cerned only with self, he said. They
come into life with a parliamentary
personality" They are born with
instincts which form the very sub
stance Of inner forces that crave
satisfaction. If permitted to have
their way, these forces would make
socialization impossible, he con-
tinued. However, the impact of the
social environment, which is another
term for training" gradually modi-
fies these elemental forces in the
direction of acceptable behavior.
The infant forms habits of life.
He gives of himself-receives affec-
tion-achieves recognition. Out of
this process he begins to form the
personal ego, the l. which has for
Its chief function the gradual ac-
ceptance of the unsurmountable and
unyielding realities of life" said DR..
Ewerhardt.
Real growth, in the mental hy-
giene sense. from early infancy up
ward. can be achieved only through
the relinquishing of purely personal
gains in favor of the larger aims
of society
Extremes Must Be Analyzed.
THAT very young infant senses
his surroundings and responds emo
tionallv to attitudes of his parents
is a well-esta mental hygiene
premise. One parent may be loving
and in every sense give the infant
security; another may be overpro-
tective, smother him with affection :.
still another may not give the child
complete acceptance. There must
be an intelligent recognition by the
parents themselves of the forces
within them which are motivating
them toward either overprotection
or rejection of the infant.
"A mother, for example, may not
be helped merely by advising her
not to spoil the child. She needs
first to be helped to understand
why this is her prevailing attitude.
1T is at the very threshold of
existence, when the early founda-
tions of personality are being laid,
that the contribution of mental hy-
giene, through parent, physician.
nurse and social worker, can be of