Mother as primary care-giver

• What is the primary care-giver of an infant?

  Person who is most responsible for an infant's health, development & wellbeing.
• Why should the mother be PCG of infant(feeding):

  NHS recommends infants are breastfed at least first 6 months of their lives. Breastfeeding offers healthiest start as it protects from numerous infections & diseases. Builds strong physical & emotional bond between mum & child. Anyone else (e.g, dad) limited to supporting care-giver role (e.g, pit crew & Formula one driver relationship). Practical & essential to infant's survival.
• Freud's views on the importance as mother as PCG:

  Mother's love acts as prototype for every relationship infant goes on to have. Separation anxiety caused by infant realising their bodily needs will go on unsatisfied if separation allowed to occur. Mother-infant dyad of greatest importance in initial oral stage. Infants depend on mum to satisfy needs of their libido. Overindulgence or frustration leads to emotional problems later in life, such as neediness or pessimism.
• Why did Bowlby say that the mother should be PCG?

  Early & prolonged separation between child & its mother can have long lasting emotional effects. Leads to affectionless character (lack of ability to feel normal affection, shame or responsibility). More likely to steal & have difficulty forming relationships.
• What is monotropy?


  Attachment to 1 care-giver has special importance for survival (Bowlby).
• What is the maternal deprivation hypothesis?

  'Mother love in infancy just as important for child's mental health as vitamins & minerals are for physical health' - Bowlby.
• Why should the mother be PCG & not the father?

  'Most men not psychologically equipped to form this kind of intense emotional relationship'-may be due to biological or social factors. Female hormone oestrogen underlies caring behaviour so women generally more oriented towards emotional relationships than men.
• What social factors may mean fathers should not be PCG?

  Sex-stereotypes that affect male behaviour (e.g, feminine to be sensitive to needs of others).
• Heermann et al (1994):


  Men less sensitive to infant cues than mothers.
• Frodi et al (1978):


  Showed videotapes of infants crying & found no differences in biological responses of men & women.
• Harlow (1959):


  Placed infant monkeys with 2 wire 'mums'. 1 had feeding bottle & 1 covered in soft cloth. Monkeys spent most time on cloth mum-clinging to it when frightened (showed food doesn't create emotional bond-contact comfort does).
• Schaffer & Emerson (1964):


  Primary attachments not formed with person who fed or spent more time with infant. Strongly attached infants had carers who responded quickly & sensitively to their 'signals' & offered child most interaction.
• What did behaviourists think about infants in 1950s?

  They were classically conditioned to associate mum with sense of pleasure (food).
• What is wrong with Freud's views on mother as PCG?

  Historical context- ideas about roles of mum & dad may just reflect norms & values held by society in early half of 20th century (he may have had different opinion now). He did recognise importance of father, especially in boy's development (Oedipus complex).
• What did Bowlby say about attachment figures?

  1 primary attachment figure, but secondary attachments provide vital emotional safety net for when PCG is absent.
• Why can fathers be PCG of an infant?

  Men capable of forming close attachments with kid. View that men aren't emotional is outdated. Changed stereotypes- men & women feel freer to take on roles traditionally for other sex.
• Gettler et al (2011):

  Father's testosterone level drops in order to help him respond more sensitively to his kid's needs. (Woman is not only parent who becomes hormonally adapted to parenthood).
• Bowlby (1953):


  'Mothering' not exclusive to mother- child should experience warm, intimate, continuous relationship with mother or substitute.
• Bowlby et al (1956):


  Some children show no ill effects from early separation. Kids in study very ill from tuberculosis & spent years in hospital with little family contact. Most showed few problems in later life. Those who coped better may have been better attached to their mothers or substitute & thus more resilient.
• Conclusions:


  View outdated (no conclusive evidence to suggest PCG must be female). Mistakenly emphasises kids have 1 primary carer- healthy development relies on multiple important relationships. Bowlby said there's primary attachment figure & secondary too.
• Geiger (1996) (conclusions):


  Fathers more playful, physically active & better at providing challenging situations for their children. (Women often main emotional figure; men provide equally important ingredient in development).
• What are the 4 sections?

  Deprivation damage, feeding, mothers not fathers & Freud's views on importance of mother.