Importance of Music in Developing a Healthy Bonding Experience Between Mother and Infant
Importance of Music in Developing a Healthy Bonding Experience Between Mother and Infant
Introduction
The relationship of mother and child is arguably one of the most common interactions in existence among all species in the animal kingdom. This is not to say however that prevalence diminishes the value of this relationship but rather emphasizes its’ importance. It is logical to assume that the mother-infant relationship possesses characteristics and qualities which have proven to be evolutionary advantageous due to the fact that the mother-infant relationship is an unavoidable part of life amongst the phylum mammilla. One theory in which offers a possible explanation presents the belief that “the early relationship between mother and baby has a major impact on the child's later cognitive, emotional and social development” (Paradice 1), in turn enriching the ability of the infant to interact within its’ respective society and therefore, proving the relationship to be evolutionary advantageous. Music is one of the many structures which facilitate the creation of this bond due to its communicative aspects. More specifically, this phenomenon occurs in both the prenatal and postnatal environment as well as within lullaby music. Considering the fact that responses of the infant in early stages of life are strictly behavioural (Holditch-Davis 1), communication in this case refers to linguistic, behavioural, and emotional interactions. Music as a communicative tool is significant in developing a healthy bond between a mother and her infant because the beneficial long-term effects it has on the psychological, physiological, behavioural, and emotional states of both aforementioned parties.
The Fetal and Maternal Musical Experience Humans are musical organisms whose fundamental systems and actions reflect aspects of music such as rhythm. A proposed explanation for this phenomena is the way in which “musical patterns are similar to perceptual patterns to which
Introduction
The relationship of mother and child is arguably one of the most common interactions in existence among all species in the animal kingdom. This is not to say however that prevalence diminishes the value of this relationship but rather emphasizes its’ importance. It is logical to assume that the mother-infant relationship possesses characteristics and qualities which have proven to be evolutionary advantageous due to the fact that the mother-infant relationship is an unavoidable part of life amongst the phylum mammilla. One theory in which offers a possible explanation presents the belief that “the early relationship between mother and baby has a major impact on the child's later cognitive, emotional and social development” (Paradice 1), in turn enriching the ability of the infant to interact within its’ respective society and therefore, proving the relationship to be evolutionary advantageous. Music is one of the many structures which facilitate the creation of this bond due to its communicative aspects. More specifically, this phenomenon occurs in both the prenatal and postnatal environment as well as within lullaby music. Considering the fact that responses of the infant in early stages of life are strictly behavioural (Holditch-Davis 1), communication in this case refers to linguistic, behavioural, and emotional interactions. Music as a communicative tool is significant in developing a healthy bond between a mother and her infant because the beneficial long-term effects it has on the psychological, physiological, behavioural, and emotional states of both aforementioned parties.
The Fetal and Maternal Musical Experience Humans are musical organisms whose fundamental systems and actions reflect aspects of music such as rhythm. A proposed explanation for this phenomena is the way in which “musical patterns are similar to perceptual patterns to which