ABSTRACT
Many of the important ideas in control-mastery theory are supported by research and theory from developmental psychology. One of the key developmental assumptions of the theory is that early experiences, including those during infancy, exert a strong (and generally unconscious) influence on later personality and psychopathology. Beyond this basic assumption, several other ideas in control-mastery theory also reflect important concepts from developmental psychology. For example, a key assumption underlying the development of pathogenic beliefs is that young children make inferences and construct theories about their experiences. In this chapter, we will address some of the important ideas and supporting research that provide the basis for the developmental assumptions of control-mastery theory. Our review of the developmental literature is not intended to be comprehensive; we focus on those aspects of the research that are particularly pertinent. The discussion will be organized in four broad areas: (a) social interactions and expectations in infancy, (b) attachment theory, (c) early cognition and the development of pathogenic beliefs, and (d) prosocial behavior, empathy, and the development of guilt.
