Evening star., 1947-06-14
Personality Pattern
Develops al Age Of 7,
Medical Session Told
By Thomos R. Henry
ssor Stuff Correspondent


begins at 2.
1t is only during the second year
that q baby's "ego" emerges from a
state OF almost vegetative existence
and the pattern of personality which
will remain throughout life Is de-
veloped, it was emphasized yester-
day in report by DR.. Benjamin
M. Spock of Rochester, Mimi. be-
fore the American Medical Associa-
ton.
Through the first year, he ex-
planned, an infant spends most of its
time eating and sleeping. 1t has
little awareness of its surroundings
and its nervous system, the physi-
cal basis of personality, remains
essentially asleep so long as hunger
is satisfied. There is no opportunity
for the development of those con-
flicts with its environment and with
other people which make individuals
obstinate, aggressive, basically dis
honest, submissive, pleasant or dis
agreeable.
The change early in the second
year Is sudden, DR.. Spock said. The
child becomes able to move about
It finds obstacles in its way, includ-
Ing It's parents. With the ability OF
locomotion 1t develops interests
rapidly, and stage of intense ex-
perimentation begins. But all It's
reactions are emotional. The brain
still is largely undeveloped and
reason is nom existent.
First Becomes Arbitrary.
At this stage, DIR. Spock said, the
baby first becomes arbitrary about
eating and balky at suggestion and
discipline which it cannot under
stand. These are things which stand
in the way Of its natural outgoing
ness" the psychiatrist said.
"The insecure or bossy parent" he
said. sis constantly challenged, and
hostility and anxiety develop"
These become basic emotional
patterns. While they may be modi-
fed later by reason, a certain sub
stratum is left which Is likely to
become the pattern of the person
ality
A report before the nervous and
mental disease specialists of the
association, made by Drs. George
Thompson and j. M. Nelson of Los
Angeles, the condition known as
paranoia-chief1y manifested in de-
lusions of persecution-was traced
to physical LESSONS of the brain
Paranoia is one of the most dan
gerous of mental diseases. 1t is
responsible for the majority OF
murders by the insane. who are
enraged against imaginary enemies.
The malady often develops among
persons of high intelligence who
may appear perfectly sane except
when the one subject on which
they are deluded enters the picture.
1t has been the least Understood OF
all mental diseases.
Due to Physical Defect.
Actually it is a phenomenon OF
"unawareness," the two doc tors re-
ported. Some physical defect de-
velops in the cerebral cortex which
prevents the normal functioning OF
the brain. This defect may be To-
Gated almost anywhere, which IS the
main reason for the confusion
which has existed about causes of
the disease. 1t is only necessary
that the person have defect which
prevents him from understanding
what goes on about him.
Without this understanding he
becomes prone to attribute silght
mishaps-the reasons for which
seem perfectly clear to normal per-
sons-to interference by others.
Thus he develops hostility toward
them.
Once such a pattern is started
il tends to build up until the para
noiac goes out with gun to re-
move those who are interfering With
him.
The person who has risen
through his own efforts from a
lower social class and the social
climber" are subject to unusual
mental strains and stresses which
bring about certain chronic i'll
nesses.
Two Doctors Present Theory.
This theory was presented to he
association by Drs. Jurgen Ruesch
and Karl M. Bowman of Los An
geles.
'The striving for betterE1ant. in
come, power and property" they
reported, requires a permanent
adaptation Of the individual to new
groups. He has to undergo re-
inarkable change in his system OF
values, in his techniques Of mastery
and in the habits and customs ac-
quired in childhood If he emerges
from one social class to another.