EARLY DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR - EVIDENCE FROM PRIMATE STUDIES

The idea that early experiences disproportionately influence adult beh aviour has long been a Fixture of mainstream developmental theory. Alt hough unambiguous empirical support for this view at the human level i s surprisingly sparse, compelling evidence from animal studies abounds . Recent studies with rhesus monkeys have demonstrated dramatic short- and long-term effects of differential early social experiences on bot h behavioural and physiological functioning. Early social relationship s with mothers or other caregivers appear to provide especially powerf ul determinants of behavioural propensities throughout the lifespan.