Main Article Content
Clinical Perspectives
The rhythmical dimension of the mother–infant relationship — transcultural considerations
Abstract
The paper describes
the importance of experiences of shared rhythmicity in the mother–infant
relationship and their meaning for primary mental development. Rhythmical
elements are already present throughout prenatal life and research has shown
responsiveness of the foetus to modifications in the area of auditory perception.
The author's concept of a prenatal ‘sound object', which results from the
foetus's experience of the maternal voice, includes rhythmical elements.
Premature birth brings about a disruption of all apsects of prenatal experience
including rhythmicity.
Two infant
observations of preterm infants from birth to one year of age show how deeply
the rhythmical aspects of existence and their expression in the primary relationship
can be affected, and how these children struggle to restore rhythmical aspects
of experience.
Journal of Child and
Adolescent Mental Health 2003, 15(1): 81-86
the importance of experiences of shared rhythmicity in the mother–infant
relationship and their meaning for primary mental development. Rhythmical
elements are already present throughout prenatal life and research has shown
responsiveness of the foetus to modifications in the area of auditory perception.
The author's concept of a prenatal ‘sound object', which results from the
foetus's experience of the maternal voice, includes rhythmical elements.
Premature birth brings about a disruption of all apsects of prenatal experience
including rhythmicity.
Two infant
observations of preterm infants from birth to one year of age show how deeply
the rhythmical aspects of existence and their expression in the primary relationship
can be affected, and how these children struggle to restore rhythmical aspects
of experience.
Journal of Child and
Adolescent Mental Health 2003, 15(1): 81-86
