Psychodynamic Flashcards
(8 cards)
Introduction
An important debate in psychology is whether the mother should be the PCG
Society = large stereotypes, focuses on women as nurturers
Themes feeding, daycare vs stay at home mum, hormones / sex roles
FOR:
Feeding
NHS recommends breastfeeding for first 6 months
Health benefits: nutrients, strong emotional bond (oxytocin)
Freud: Childhood experience
5 stages of psychosexual development
determine behaviour in adulthood
6-18 months libido oral stage, breastfeeding critical
Social imp: large pressure on mothers who can’t/don’t breastfeed, mothers may overfeed in worry of illness
AGAINST:
Feeding
Harry Harlows monkeys
Young monkeys chose comfort over food
Doesn’t have to be mother PCG
Anyone can provide a child with comfort
FOR:
Daycare vs stay at home mum
Strengthens bond
Daycare can be stressful for child (away from PCG and foreign environment)
Evidence strongly suggests that having at least 1 stay at home parent can significantly positively have long term outcomes for child
Save money rather than spend on daycare
AGAINST:
Daycare vs stay at home mum
Mothers go back to work=more financial stability
Child will learn how to be away from PCG for long hours without anxiety
Daycare will boost cognitive and social development
Stay at home mum=feel disconnected from other adults & lose sense of identity outside of being a parent
Social imp: Stigma of sending children to daycare at early age
FOR:
Hormones / sex roles
Oestrogen = more printed towards emotional relationships, natural nurturers
Heermann et al: Men less sensitive to infant cues - lower brain activity listening to children crying
Uni of Essex study: 8,000 women and children, child’s cognitive & social skills improved by spending more time with mother
Social imp: Pressure on single fathers and same sex families (2 men)
AGAINST:
Hormones / sex roles
Testosterone levels in men drop so they can sensitively care to their child needs
Social imp: Pressure on same sex families (2 women)
Conclusion
