Abstract

This important book challenges the widely held assumption that early experience has a disproportionate effect on later development. Drawing from over forty years of rigorous empirical research and theoretical enquiry, Ann and Alan Clarke argue that the effects of early experiences are just the first steps in an ongoing and complex life path, on which the shaping or re-shaping of development can occur in any period.

The evidence they present for the resilience of children and the interaction of early and subsequent experience clarifies and advances the ancient nature - nurture debate. This debate underpins current developments and approaches in fields as diverse as education, psychology, social care and sociology.

The Clarkes' findings have enormous practical implications for professionals working with disadvantaged children and adults. They show the value of interventions with and outside the family, and the potential for positive environments to create lasting change at any stage of life. Early Experience and the Life Path will illuminate the practice of psychologists, psychiatrists, social care professionals and teachers, and anyone working with children who have experience of adversity.

This is a useful book that can be recommended to practicing psychologists, teachers of psychology and students. It is useful because it reminds us of the importance of paying attention to sound theoretical contexts and research before we plan interventions for individuals or larger groups. It demonstrates how much more sophisticated models of longitudinal research, and hence monitoring our own work, have become. It reformulates the old nature-nurture debate by illustrating the complex interactions between DNA, individual characteristics, psycho-social transactions and significant life changes. Finally, it is a pleasure to read yet more of their work, which presents well thought-out psychology in easily accessible language.
Educational Psychology in Practice
The text of this book is concise and immensely readable. The issues raised are cross-disciplinary, and have relevance to the fields of educational and social psychology, social care and sociology. Anyone involved with the education and development of children will find this an accessible and illuminating source of information.
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
The themes running through this book are: that early disadvantage does not necessarily condemn a child to a lifetime's disadvantage; that adversity at any age can have harmful effects; that strong positive intervention can reverse the effects of early adversity; and that even without such intervention there are always some children who escape the effects of a bad start. A number of factors are identified which provide protection to the child, such as a sociable and resourceful personality, good innate abilities, a supportive school and peer group; conversely a difficult temperament, chaotic family, and poor emotional development may hinder the child's personal development. It is eminently readable, always engaging, often riveting. In the end, it is immensely heartening. That children could suffer the terrible deprivations described here and emerge triumphantly whole, thanks perhaps to their own qualities and to the devotion of those who subsequently nurtured them, is a tribute to the human spirit and to human goodness.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
This slim book packs a powerful argument. At it's core, Clarke and Clarke conclude that the weight of scientific evidence demonstrates that human beings recover remarkably well from adverse experiences where there has been well-constructed early intervention to provide more favourable circumstances.
Adoption & Fostering
Ann and Alan Clarke's 1976 book on (italic)Early Experience: Myth and Evidence provided a major challenge to the widely held belief that early experiences inevitably had lasting long-term effects. They argued that the empirical research evidence suggested that, to the contrary, there was often substantial (although not necessarily complete) recovery from even very serious deprivation if later experiences were good ones. The present book constitutes a sequel and update, but it is more than that in its provision of an admirably succint and balanced portrayal of some of the key research challenges and some conceptual issues that have to be taken on board. As always, the Clarkes are scrupulously faire in their consideration of the evidence; positive and definite in their conclusions but not polemical; careful to take note of contrary evidence; and practical in their discussion of policy and practice implications. Appropriately, they note that the studies of Romanian adoptess both confirm crucial aspects of their thesis and also suggest the need for some change in developmental concepts, whilst still supporting the main tenets of the views expressed here. Perhaps that will constitute the topic for the Clarkes' next book, but this one is strongly recommended as a thoughtful update on their concepts of resilience.
Children and Society
Ann Clarke was Emeritus Professor at the University of Hull, as was her late husband Alan Clarke who also held the position of Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University. Their work has been widely published, including seven other books, and their careful research and analysis was recognized by the 1977 Research Award from the American Association on Mental Deficiency and the 1982 Distinguished Achievement Award for Scientific Literature from the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency. Ann was a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Alan was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and, in 1974, he was appointed a CBE.