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The concept of childhood in the middle ages
Author(s) -
Kroll Jerome
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of the history of the behavioral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.216
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1520-6696
pISSN - 0022-5061
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6696(197710)13:4<384::aid-jhbs2300130411>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - closeness , ambivalence , middle ages , psychology , developmental psychology , early childhood , social psychology , sociology , history , ancient history , mathematical analysis , mathematics
The question is raised of whether the Middle Ages held a view of the nature of childhood as distinct from adulthood. Evidence is offered from legal documents, medical writings, and church and monastic chronicles to support the viewpoint that the special nature of the child was perceived (although with great ambivalence) as being fragile, vulnerable, and naive, while also possessing a potential for closeness to God and the supernatural world.