Debate Flashcards
What is the debate of the Psychodynamic apprpach?
The mother as a primary caregiver of an infant
Explain why a mother feeding an infant is important? (FOR)
The NHS suggests that a baby is breastfed for at least 6 months after they are born, as it allows them to build up their immune system from numerous diseases and infection, it also builds a strong bond between mum and baby
Why were Frueds view on the importance of the mother important? (FOR)
Freud claimed that the mother-child dyad was the most important during the oral stage of a childs development. He went on to claim that a fixation at this stage caused emotional issues such as neediness later in life
Why is Bowlbys claims of deprivation damage important? (FOR)
Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis claimed that a mother was central in the emotional development of a child and they wouldnt develop properly without one
‘A mothers love is just as important for an infants mental health as vitamins and minerals are for physical health’
What is the idea that mothers are better equipped for childcare than men ? (FOR)
Biologically speaking, women have higher levels of the hormone oestrogen which allows them to form more intense relationships with the infant than men, whose primary hormone is testosterone.
What suggests that it may not be essential that the mother feeds the baby? (AGAINST)
Harlow’s wire monkey experiment - suggests that when frightened we will cling to comfort rather than food. This means that comfort causes more of an emotional bond than feeding does, meaning a mother is not essential for the feeding of a baby
Why might Freuds views on the importance of the mother not be significant? (AGAINST)
Its inportance to take into consideration the time period of Freud’s writing, women didn’t even have the right to vote and his claims reflect the early 20th century
Freud did highlight the importance of the father ‘ I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a fathers protection’
Why might Bowlby’s claims of deprivation damage not soely apply to absent mothers? (AGAINST)
Bowlby did not claim that the ‘maternal figure’ in a childs life had to be female, instead he was referring to a continuous, steady and intimate stream of love that usually comes from the mother (or a substitute), meaning that a mother is not central but mother-like love is
What is the biological argument of mothers not fathers debated? (AGAINST)
Gettler et ak (2011) found that a males testosterone decreases once their child is born in order to allow them to form caring relationships with their child, meaning that the male is equipt to look after the child
