Mother-Infant Interaction (New York University, 1967)

This paragraph describes the feeding interactions of type 1 mothers, who are highly empathic and maintain control throughout the feeding process. They are sensitive to their baby's state and do not interrupt the feeding without consideration. These mothers ensure physical closeness without confining the baby and maintain good-humored communication. They are also able to engage with others while keeping their main visual regard on the baby. The feeding experience is gratifying for both mother and infant.

Type 2 mothers are also empathic but tend to enjoy their role in feeding and accelerate the pace according to their own needs. They have excessive control but are never unkind. These mothers are overeager, often anticipating the needs of their infants, and interrupt the feeding to carry out unnecessary procedures, which lowers their efficiency. They may prioritize play over feeding, leading to a decrease in the baby's appetite. Despite being aware of the baby's hunger, they still fuss, and their feeding style can be overly active and mechanical.

Type 3 mothers lack empathy for their infants' needs and are overconfident, often unaware that infants need encouragement to take an active role in feeding. They have a capacity for tenderness but disparage affection or tolerance. These mothers are determined to get food into their babies, often overlooking the importance of the feeding experience for building rapport. They interrupt bottle feeding to feed cereal against the baby's wishes and push food in rapidly, leading to the baby's frustration. Their feeding methods can agitate the baby, and they often avoid distressing scenes by leaving the baby to feed alone.

Type 4 mothers are even less empathetic and more controlling than those in type 3. They may delay feeding until the babies show acute distress and may treat the babies as if they were alien to them. These mothers consider feeding a burden and resent it, and they do not feel free to foster intimacy with their babies. They are tense and unsure of how to proceed with feeding, leading to a joyless experience for both mother and baby. The babies of type 4 mothers may show developmental lags and behavioral issues at one year of age.

Type 5 mothers are unable to offer adequate emotional stimulation to their babies, resulting in restricted empathy and faulty control. They respond to obvious needs but are otherwise withdrawn. These mothers prefer routine and are not curious about infant care. Their play with the baby is not spontaneous, and they offer little warmth or reassurance. They may misinterpret the baby's signals and provide inadequate physical contact, leading to tension and discomfort for the baby.

Type 6 mothers aim for high efficiency in feeding, with well-organized activities and complete confidence in their methods. They interrupt the baby's sucking only when necessary and rarely engage in physical contact or communication with the baby. Their feedings are conducted in a business-like manner, which may not allow for much responsiveness from the baby. Despite their efficiency, the lack of physical contact and emotional warmth can lead to a sterile feeding experience.

Type 7 mothers work hard to understand their babies but often struggle due to a lack of experience with infants. They may be overly controlling or fearful of exerting necessary controls, leading to uneven empathy. These mothers are uneasy about feeding procedures and desire guidance. Their feeding interactions can be awkward, and they may prioritize their own feelings of competence over the baby's contentment. Type 7 mothers' babies may be alert and sociable but also restless and easily frustrated.

The study of over 100 mothers and infants found that babies of mothers in types 1 and 2, and many in type 6, are the most uniformly well-developed at one year of age. These mothers have at least adequate degrees of empathy, control, and efficiency. As a result, their infants begin their second year of life with the capacity for optimal development. The last mother described in the script is from type 2, and her empathic, efficient, and slightly dominating approach fosters a strong relationship with her baby, leading to significant developmental progress.