Pros and Cons of Theory:

Pros: 1. Gessell had pervasive influence on American psychology, education and child-rearing.
2. Theorists were advocates of "discerning guidance"
3. It gave parents and educators a guide by which they could find the "norm" or average
behavior for each age group.
4. Believed that many traits of human behavior were heritable.
5. Opened up a whole new positive look for nursery schools for "school readiness"
6. It expected children to be immature...maturity would come later in life.
7. It looked at the wonderful effects of natural growth.
8. It lead to patience during times that a child was problematic (i.e. "Terrible Twos)

Cons: 1. Did not relate to child's learning, injury, illness or other life experiences.
2. There was too much emphasis on maturation and not learning.
3. The developmental stages were possibly too slow.
4. Rules out all evidence of environment influences.



Other sites to search:

www.infed.org/thinkers/et-rous.htm

www.danielson.laurentian.ca/drdnotes

www.answers.com/topic/arnold-gessell