Social and behavioural aspects of breast-feeding

In: Journal of biosocial science: JBS, Band 9, Heft S4, S. 57-68

Abstract

Breast-feeding in the human and higher primates unlike the case of most other mammals, is learned rather than instinctive; over a long time it has been shown to be highly labile. Its success appears to depend not only upon the capacity of the mother to lactate, i.e. to produce milk, or on the child's ability to suckle, but perhaps more significantly, on the mother's desire to breast-feed, on the availability of sufficient reference models upon which she can base her own performance and draw upon for psycho-social support during lactation. In modern settings breast-feeding is likely to involve the mother in complex and new role situations, and to become increasingly vulnerable to the social characteristics of the environment in which she operates.