THE GOOD MOTHER - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF SWEDISH, ITALIAN AND AMERICAN MATERNAL-BEHAVIOR AND GOALS

This paper is based on a comparative, psychologically informed ethnogr aphic study of maternal goals and infant care during the first year of life for 20 mothers and infants in each of three Western settings: St ockholm, Sweden, outside Rome, Italy, and suburban Boston, in the Unit ed States. Two research questions were posed to consider cultural idea s and ideals about mothering; How was the 'good mother' defined? How d id sample women themselves, mother? Research hypotheses were that defi nitions of a good mother would be culture-specific with minimal within -culture variance. Furthermore, the frequency of maternal behaviors wo uld also exhibit culture specific patterns. Research methods included event based behavioral observations of infant-caregiver interactions i n the home, daily routine questionnaires, maternal attitude interviews , and ethnographic observations of community and family life. Research hypothesis were confirmed. Results revealed culture-specific variatio n in conceptions of the 'good mother'. Cultural differences were refle cted in the short- and long-term goals which the sample women describe d for their children. Patterns of infant care, in turn, were consisten t with the cultural values expressed, as well as the cultural norms of social interaction.