By the way a baby coos and gurgles, sucks its toes and pats its image in the glass, famed Child Specialist Arnold Gesell of Yale believes he can tell what kind of an adult it will become—whether bright or dull, sociable or seclusive, skillful or clumsy. Last week, Dr. Gesell and his assistant. Dr. Catherine Strunk Amatruda, published a system of scientific tests for measuring and predicting the evolution of personality (Developmental Diagnosis; Hoeber; $6.50). Most of the doctors' prophecies have been subjected to proof, for their studies extend over a period of 20 years. The book tackles such problems as normal behavior, retarded mentality, convulsions, precocity, birth injury, home environments, adoption.
Rings, Bells, Blocks. Dr. Gesell discovered that all infants unfold in a strict pattern of activity. He developed a number of delicate tests which normal babies should be able to pass at a given age. If a baby deviates from the biological schedule, Dr. Gesell claims that a doctor can tell that something is wrong. The tests take only ten to 20 minutes, can be easily mastered by all doctors. They require such simple equipment as colored rings, a rattle, blocks, a pellet and bottle, a bell, a string, paper and crayon, etc. A few examples of normal behavior at key ages:
> Four weeks: The baby acts like a tiny tree ape, lashing his arms, clenching his fists. He lies mostly on his side with his head turned, one arm extended, the other flexed. He turns his head and eyes through an arc of 90° to look at rings and rattles, listen to a bell. When the doctor tries to pull him up, his head sags back.
>16 weeks: He "relishes the sitting position," smiles at the doctor. He accepts a ring or rattle, brings it to his mouth, although he is more interested in his visitor. When held upright he holds his head up and forward, laughs aloud, can sit propped for ten to 15 minutes.
> 28 weeks: He is "socially pretty wise," recognizing strangers and growing impatient as he sees his mother preparing food. He shakes a rattle, sucks his toes. He also plays with his image in a mirror, "talks" to his toys.
> 40 weeks: This is the age of the index finger—of poking and prying. The baby sits up by himself, plucks a string, creeps, pulls himself to his feet against the railing of his pen. He can say "mama, dada," and one other word. At mealtime he holds his bottle.
>18 months: He walks alone, seats himself with care. When given a book, he looks at pictures, turns pages two or three at a time. He knows ten words, helps feed himself, hands his empty dish to his mother. Always "on the loose," he runs stiffly, constantly shifts his attention.
> Two years: His personality is rough and bearish; he may run rather than walk. He can build a tower of six or seven cubes, insert a square block in a square hole. He also throws and kicks a ball, knows 50 words, puts dolls to bed, talks about his experiences, asks for food and toilet.