Dr.

Arnold Gesell
The Maturation Theory of Child Development
Introduction
● Dr. Arnold Lucius Gesell was an
American psychiatrist and pediatrician
who studied both the physical and
cognitive development of children,
creating the Yale Clinic of Child
Development.
● He was influenced by many before
him, and his studies resulted in his
Maturation Theory.
Timeline of Dr. Arnold Gesell and His Studies
● Arnold Gesell was born on June 21st, 1880 and began his studies in the field
of psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.
● Once he received a doctorate from Clark University in 1906, he transferred to
the Yale Psycho-Clinic* to further study child development, as well as
receiving his M.D. in 1915 from Yale.
● Gesell began writing books in 1912, however his most famous works began
emerging in later years.
● In 1925, Dr. Arnold Gesell created the Maturation-Development Theory,
which focuses on “the course, the pattern, and the rate of maturational growth
in [both] normal and exceptional children,” (Gesell, 1928).
Timeline of Dr. Arnold Gesell and His Studies (cont.)
● In 1928, he wrote Infancy and Human Growth, following in 1934 with An Atlas
of Infant Behavior and, in 1949, Child Development: An Introduction to the
Study of Human Growth.
● His years of research and his studies have impacted many psychologists to
this day, publishing his last work, Youth: The Years from Ten to Sixteen, in
1956.
● Dr. Arnold Gesell became known as “one of the most important figures in
child development”, and he continued his research in the Yale Clinic of Child
Development until he died on May 29th, 1961. (Marchese, 1995).
Introduction to Maturation Theory
● Sequential Development - this means that every child develops at their own
pace and, at the same time, they follow their own sequence.
● Study of Twins - Dr. Arnold Gesell did a study on twins and how they were
developing. One twin would develop with much more ease than the other. He
found that if they tried to force the other twin to do what the other was doing,
they were not successful. Each had to develop at their own pace and it could
not be forced. They still followed the same pattern but not at the same time.
● Patterns - Studying these twins, he began to see patterns. For example,
babies, when first born, move their eyes around a lot. They eventually find
their hands, and then their hands start to grasp things, and so on.
Introduction to Maturation Theory (cont.)
● The Brain - Within these studies, Dr. Arnold Gesell saw the brain developing,
and he learned that the brain has two different sides.
● When the child is learning, the two different sides are communicating to one
another. When the two different sides begin to understand each other is when
the child has completed that phase of development.
● For instance, a baby moves its eyes to see its hands, and when it has control
of its hands is the completion of “seeing hands and making them work”
phase.
Theory
Gesell’s theory focuses on the course, pattern and rate of growth expected in
children. Gesell believed that there isn’t only an environmental factor in the growth
and development of a child, but also a genetic influence.

The theory also focuses on internal factors like the central nervous system of a
child. The connection between the brain, spinal cord and nerves allow for the
child’s mind to expand and grow.

Growth Development Behavior change

Theory (cont.)
When the spinal cord, brains and nerves are able to communicate in their complex
network it allows for a child’s mind to grow. As it grows development occurs and
when development happens, the behavior of that child will also occur.

The theory also demonstrates that a child’s developmental age or stage of

development, may differ from his or her chronological age.
Connections: Maturation Theory and Child Development

Factors that affect development:

1. Genetic influence
● Disease (Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia)
1. Internal factors
● Brain/nervous system development
1. Environment
● Nutrition
● Safety
● Relationships
● Poverty
Connections: Maturation Theory and Child Development
Genetic sequence, according to the maturation theory, for hand-eye
coordination in an infant should follow a sequence similar to this:

1) No visual regard
2) Short-term (transient) regard
3) More prolonged and definite fixation with slight body movements
4) Visual fixation with hand approach
5) Hand approach with scratching motions near an object
6) More centralized hand motions, grasping, and drawing toward the body
7) Ability to extend fingers as to point
8) Development of pincer grasp

(Smith, 1973)
Works Cited
"Arnold Gesell." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 19 Jul. 2012.
academic.eb.com.zeus.tarleton.edu:82/levels/collegiate/article/Arnold-Gesell/36614. Accessed 3 Feb. 2018.

Marchese, Frank J. "The Place of Eugenics in Arnold Gesell's Maturation Theory of Child Development." Canadian Psychology/Psychologie
Canadienne, vol. 36, no. 2, May 1995, pp. 89-114. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/0708-5591.36.2.89.

Hildreth, Gertrude. "Review of the Guidance of Mental Growth in Infant and Child." Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 22, no. 5, May 1931, pp.
391-393. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/h0069490.

Smith, P. W., Short, V. M., (Eds). (1973). A Point in Time...Readings in Early Childhood Education. New York, NY: MSS Information Corp.

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