Psychodynamic Debate Flashcards
What is psychodynamic debate?
The mother as the Primary Care Giver
What is meant by primary care-giver?
The person who is the most responsible for an infants health, development and well-being
What are the three chosen themes for the debate?
Feeding
Influence on future relationships
Importance of the mother
What is the argument FOR the mother as primary care-giver in relation to feeding?
NHS encourages and recommends that infants such be breastfed for the first 6 months of life (every 2 hours) due to its health benefits and builds a special bond
What is the argument AGAINST the mother as primary care-giver in relation to feeding?
Harlow’s Monkeys (1959) found being a source of food is not enough to form a an attachment, contact comfort was most important for forming a bond
What is the SOCIAL IMPLICATION of the mother as primary care-giver in relation to feeding?
Mother’s in society may feel an intense pressure to want and be able to breastfeed when it is not always possible and may feel they are not doing a good enough job as a mother
What is the argument FOR the mother as primary care-giver in relation to the influence on future relationships?
Bowlby’s internal working model theory - the mother-infant relationship and bond sets a template for future relationships through adulthood so should maintain a positive one
What is the argument AGAINST the mother as primary care-giver in relation to the influence on future relationships?
Zimmerman (2000) found that very little relationship between quality of infant attachments and attachments throughout adolescence with parents, therefore disagrees with internal working model
What is the SOCIAL IMPLICATION of the mother as primary care-giver in relation to the influence on future relationships??
Other hard-working parental figures in society such as single fathers or grandparents may feel pressure and guilt for the lack of maternal figure in the Childs life
What is the argument FOR the mother as primary care-giver in relation to the importance of the mother?
Hrdy (1999) found that fathers are less able to detect levels of distress in infants than mothers due to the biological lack of oestrogen
What is the argument AGAINST the mother as primary care-giver in relation to the importance of the mother?
Lamb (1987) suggests that fathers are able to quickly adapt to the sensitivity of their infants needs and responsiveness is not only limited to women
What is the argument SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS the mother as primary care-giver in relation to the importance of the mother?
The expectation that women are more biologically able to be a parent plays into gender stereotypes and roles and creates pressure on mothers whilst dismissing fathers
