Please explain the theory of Maternal Role Attainment (MRA). What ...

[renzo156]

Please explain the theory of Maternal Role Attainment (MRA). What factors influence MRA?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In general, life course development tends to follow specific __________, or expectations of how one is to behave at any stage in life.
 
  (a) age norms
  (b) social patterns
  (c) functional prerequisites
  (d) demographic prescriptions

[randomguy133]

Answer to Question 1

MRA speaks to the fluid, continual, fluctuating processes associated with becoming a mother (Rubin, 1967). According to this theory, women actually begin adopting roles associated with motherhood during their pregnancies, such as bonding emotionally with the growing fetus. While pregnant, a woman also begins to observe the behaviors of mother models she has in her environment (such as her own mother, grandmothers, and friends); as her pregnancy continues, she adopts those behaviors she believes would be ideal for her and her child, and she rejects behaviors she judges as inappropriate for herself. Through pregnancy, and after the birth of her child, she continues to construct an ideal image of herself as mother; she then adopts roles that support this ideal image. There are a number of factors that influence MRA. These include:
- Age of the mother
- Socioeconomic background
- Social stress and support
- Temperament
- Self-concept
- Childrearing beliefs and attitudes
- Role strain
- Perception of the infant

Answer to Question 2

(a)