_What are the adaptive instincts?_ By the adaptive instincts is meant
the power that an individual possesses of fitting himself, more or less
easily, into the situation in which he finds himself. Such power of
adaptability is of the greatest possible value to the human infant,
coming as he does into an extremely complex environment, physical and
social, and with the further certainty before him of extremely complex
activities in adult life.
Fortunately the long period of plastic infancy offers constant
opportunity for readjusting one’s habits, tastes, accomplishments, etc.
Three chief means for making such readjustments are found in the child’s
tendencies, (1) to imitate, (2) to play, (3) to satisfy his curiosity.
“Example is usually far better than rule and imitation more effective
than explanation....”
—_Thorndike._