Adults Quote by Lewis Terman
“It is evident, therefore, that one of the most fundamental problems of psychology is that of investigating the laws of mental growth. When these laws are known, the door of the future will in a measure be opened; determination of the child's present status will enable us to forecast what manner of adult he will become.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Psychology of Mental Development by Lewis Terman, 1925
Understanding mental growth laws lets us predict adult outcomes and shape interventions early.
In simple terms: Predict adult outcomes by studying child development.
Key Takeaway
Study early development to guide future.
Themes
psychology
development
prediction
intervention
Mood
analytical
hopeful
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education planning
- parenting strategies
- policy making
Key Concepts
cognitive growth
forecasting
Questions to Reflect On
- What data best predicts adult traits?
- How can interventions be ethically applied?
A Different Perspective
Predictions are probabilistic, not certain.
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
