ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the events that take place in the interactions, with particular reference to the part played by the mother in determining their structure. The child's transformation from a biological to a social being in the space of just the first year or two of life is surely the most important aspect by far of early development. The very nature of mother and child imposes constraints that ensure a basic similarity underlying the social behaviour of all. Socialization is an umbrella term that refers to a wide range of topics frequently bound together in only the most tenuous manner. S. LeVine, for example, distinguishes three views of the process, namely socialization as enculturation, as the acquisition of impulse control, and as role training. Social interactions, even those involving young infants, generally give the impression of 'smoothness'. It is apparent that the 'smoothness' of these early interactions is due to contributions from both mother and infant.
