Maternal motive
filed in Uncategorized on Jun.25, 2009
The behaviour involving the care and protection of the offspring by the females of a species is called maternal behaviour and the motive that energizes a female to indulde in such behaviouor and the motive that energizes a female to indulge in such behaviour called the maternal drive or motive. The maternal drives is stimulated both by the biological and phychological factors inter-related with learning. The earlier scene in this direction is dominated by the role of the hormones. The hormones progesterone has been found to be important in maintaining pregnancy and estrogen helps to trigger birth. Another hormone, prolactine produced by the pituitary gland, directs the mammary glands to secrete milk for the new born.
The later period of othe maternal behaviour is controlled and guided by the learning components of the maternal drive and behaviour spring from a variety of sources: from mother and grandmother, from observing the behaviour of friends and neighbours, from books, from movies and television, etc. One’s own physical and mental health may also contribute in this direction. However, much depends upon the impact of the social learning and earlier experiences that leave an unforget table impression on the mind of the mother justifying the finding that being a good and loving mother depends considerably on having a good and loving mother.