ABSTRACT
It has been contended that it is no more parsimonious to interpret a correlation found between parent and child characteristics at a single point in time as due to the effects of parents on children, than it is to offer the opposite interpretation. For purposes of discussion the effects of the young are detailed in terms of two very different aspects of the parent—child interaction. One aspect concerns the provision of life support and protection. The behavior of the newborn further stimulates parental behavior. The thrashing and uncoordinated limb movements create an appearance of helplessness. The human infant's appearance alone could also have some effect on parental responsiveness in this early period, since the shape of the head (a short face relative to a large forehead and protruding cheeks) shows characteristics in line with several other species.
