ontogeny/cultural history

Mike Cole (mcole who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu)
Fri, 5 Mar 1999 06:10:31 -0800 (PST)

Yrjo and I have been discussing studies that look at the interaction between
cultural history and ontogeny where cultural history refers to histories of
particular institutions within a society. I know of a couple of ready-to-mind
examples, but wonder if others can suggest other places to look.

Frederick Morrison and colleagues have studied how the age at which school
systems allow students to enter affects their development. His "cut off" strategy
allows comparison of children 1-2 months different in age who do or do not
attend kindergarten because of their exact birthdates. showing effects of the
shift of environments for some, but not other cognitive processes (discussed
in cole and cole, development of children, ch13).

In 1969, Paul Baltes and colleagues published a study on whether elementary school
to higher levels occurred at different ages, and perhaps junior/senior high (I
am missing the journal that has the exact ref). In the US, these transitions shift
a good deal from state to state and over time. It turns out that the timing
makes a difference, as I recall, in such features as self image and identity.

In the lit on cohort effects and elsewhere, there are probably a goodly number of
studies that contain such "dysynchronies" visa vis ontogeny related to local
cultural history. But where? And is there enough there for some really solid
generalization?

A question hurled into what some on xmca perceive as silence! :-)
mike