becoming a mother research
Summarising findings from the study as a whole, this paper concentrates on describing how the infant observation method’s research potential was enhanced by procedures to increase systematicity, and the opportunities for the triangulation of evidence. Particular attention was given to the value of exploring the impact of the observation material on the observers in the group in understanding the meaning and/or impact of cultural and ethnic... more
Observing families from cultures very different from our own can produce complex reactions, from fascination, shock and confusion, to a tendency to be dismissive or judgemental. Perhaps the difficulty in processing these kinds of affective reactions contributes to the tendency to see culture as OUTSIDE the person. Research tends to focus on ‘cultural differences’ or cultural practices for what they tell us about the social group that they... more
Psychoanalytic infant observation, as developed in the Tavistock Clinic, London, UK, is a distinctive methodology, based on naturalistic observation in the home. It focuses particularly on the qualities of mental and emotional development in the mother –infant relationship and on the infant’s internalisation of experiences in relationships with the family. Making use of detailed descriptive observational accounts and the application of... more
This chapter illustrates the potential of surprise through presenting material from a research study aiming to understand how becoming a mother for the first time may affect a woman’s sense of who she is. Exploring countertransference experiences was a necessary prerequisite to understanding the meaning of the mothers’ communications. Their value for research was fourfold. Firstly, processing the group’s emotional reactions prompted... more
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