Approaches to a dynamic theory of development: Round Table, 1949: 1. Relation of cup feeding in infancy to thumbsucking and the oral drive.

Oral Habits and their Management

“…Suffice it to say that despite the voluminous amount of literature available, no scientific data support the psychoanalytic position. More recently, investigators have conceptualized such habits in learning theory terms (Palermo, 1956) and the evidence provides support for a learning theory approach to their etiology and treatment (Benjamin, 1967;Davis et al, 1948;Sears and Wise, 1950;Davidson et al, 1967;Larsson, 1972;Baer, 1962;Graber, 1958).…”

“…Johnson (1938) had previously recommended using a miniature version of boxing gloves as a way of preventing or curing the habit. Sears and Wise (1950) found that early-weaned infants showed less sucking behavior than later-weaned infants and concluded that a carefully selected weaning schedule might reduee or eliminate sucking habits.…”