Book Description
This dissertation explores the ancient art of infant massage and the ways in which clinicians can utilize this intervention to strengthen infant-parent attachment. Current research and theories on touch and development from a depth-oriented perspective are presented, including related concepts such as psychic skin, skin ego, and Winnicott's holding environment or handling. Using the hermeneutic method, the following questions are investigated: 1. Why is touch important for the infant's emotional development? 2. How have modern child-rearing theorists, particularly those influenced by behaviorism, affected the quality of infant-parent interactions, leading to a decrease in physical contact between infant and caregiver? 3. How can infant massage be used as an intervention to promote positive parent-infant touch and interaction? A review of the literature suggests benefits for the dyad, including increased mother-infant bonding (Field, 1995; Heller, 1997; Heart, 2003), increased pleasurable interactions on the part of mothers who have massaged their children (Field, Scafidi, & Schanberg, 1987), improved mood of depressed mothers engaging in an infant massage program (Field, Grizzle, Scafidi, Abrams, & Richardson, 1996), increased parenting skills (Szyndler & Bell 1992), and increased sensitivity to behavioral cues. This dissertation concludes with an outline of infant-parent psychotherapy models and the ways in which infant massage instruction can be incorporated into the models presented.
