The Hopi child

Dennis, Wayne

Book

The Hopi child

D. Appleton-Century Company, Incorporated, for the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences, University of Virginia • New York • Published In 1940 • Pages:

By: Dennis, Wayne.

Abstract
This source is a study of infant and child care, rearing practices, and infant and child behavior and development among the Hopi. Part I of this source focuses on Hopi culture and various aspects of Hopi infancy and childhood. The discussion of Hopi culture focuses on the village of Hotavila and examines the local economy, marriage practices, social organization, ceremonial life and ideals. According to the author, Hotavila is the most conservative of the Hopi communities, is therefore most representative of the traditional Hopi way of life, and thus provides the most appropriate baseline for his study. In the discussion of Hopi infancy and childhood the author examines infant and child care practices, socialization, childhood activities, and marriage and courtship. In Part II the author focuses on infant and child behavior development. This includes discussions of infant reactions to the cradleboard, infant development (particularly the effect of cradleboarding on the development of walking), the behavior of young children, child personality, and the incidence and basis of problem behavior in Hopi children. Part II also includes the edited text of the diary of the author's observational study of child behavior in the village of New Oraibi. The source concludes with a brief summary of the study's findings and their implications for understanding infant and child behavior and development in general.

Division of labor by gender

Development and maturation

Techniques of socialization

Adolescent activities

Aggression training

Life history materials