Validation of One's Value - Its Importance and the Consequences of Its Absence or Inadequacy

A friend of mine and I were talking the other day.  In the course of our conversation, we came upon the idea that early-life validation (e.g., by one's parents or primary care-givers) is extremely important.  Conversely, people who are not sufficiently validated early on in life often later find themselves profoundly affected.  Interesting compensatory strategies are often pursued.  One phenomenon often encountered is "Repetition Compulsion", Wikipedia article or trying again and again (often quite unconsciously) to play out the early-childhood psychodrama, and to have it turn out differently, this time.