ORTHOGENESIS. - The term originated with Th. Eimer (1897) as a naturalistic doctrine: the evolution of animal groups along predetermined directions already inherent in the organism during embryonic development. The modern orthogenesis of Pende, on the other hand, following the most integral constitutionalist concept and harmonizing it with endocrine doctrine, is not merely a unified clinical-biological conception, but seeks to bring about a regular and harmonious physical, functional and spiritual development of man.
Orthogenesis has close ties with eugenics and constitutionalistics, of which it may be considered a direct emanation; whereas genetics, however (and the eugenics that took its origin from it), deals principally with the genetic problem and the hereditary factors of the species, orthogenesis applies itself to the problems of prenatal and infant life, of childhood, adolescence and youth, up to the complete development of the person. There also exists a conceptional orthogenesis that borders on, and up to a certain point merges with, eugenics.
Also with regard to constitutionalistics, it must be observed that the latter grasps the static imprint of a subject at a given moment, whereas orthogenesis follows the constitutional becoming of the person, through those modifications of growth and somatic differentiation governed by the now well-established laws of Viola, Godin and Pende (v. BIOTIPOLOGIA; ETÀ DELLA VITA). Moreover, as an integral biotypological study, in Pende's concept, orthogenesis concerns itself with functional and psychological investigation (intelligence, inclinations and character) at the various moments of development and at the various ages.
Orthogenesis is a science born with practical aims; it seeks to correct abnormal patterns of development (by means of endocrinotherapy, physical education and psychology), intervening in the young, particularly at that capital point of development which is puberty (v. ADOLESCENZA). Until a few years ago, on the other hand, that period was almost unexplored, because in biological-medical studies one passed, almost at a leap, from the child to the man, forgetting that the psycho-physical unity of man is perfected precisely during puberty, from the age of 13 to 18.
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Alessandro Marolla