著者

星野 命 祖父江 孝男 須江 ひろ子 今井 義量

出版者

国際基督教大学

雑誌

国際基督教大学学報. I-A, 教育研究 (ISSN:04523318)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.5, pp.148-216, 1958-12

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This is the first part of a report on research which has been undertaken by a psychologist, the senior author, and three anthropologists. The second part contains empirical studies of the child rearing pattern and personality development made at a rural community in the central Japan. In Japan there has been done no significant work in the field of culture and personality, particularly of child rearing patterns and personality development, whereas many fruitful studies on the subject have been undertaken by anthropologists and psychologists in the U.S. since the 1930's. However, some attempts have been undertaken recently in Japan in two kinds of studies; 1) experimental and critical studies of patterns of feeding, weaning and toilet training which were expressly pointed out as important factors in children's personality development by psychoanalytic researchers, 2) supplementary studies following the studies previously done by foreign researchers on parent-child relationship. The authors have been interested in relationships between traditional child-rearing patterns in rural areas in Japan and personality types of Japanese people. They have attempted to make an intensive and collaborative investigations at a hamlet (buraku), in Kaida-mura (village) of Nagano-ken (prefecture) in central Japan, where a specific way of handling children has been the custom for a long time. Use is made of a basket of straw, which is called "Ejiko (Izumi, or Koshiki)", in which an infant is swaddled and kept all day long. The custom is not so commonly seen at present as in previous days. However, it calls the authors' attention to a similar use of a cradle among the American Indians who have been studied extensively by American anthropologists. The procedures, results and discussions of the research at the hamlet will be reported in the next issue of this journal. The following are contents of the present review of articles and books previously published in this field. 1. Child-rearing patterns in terms of training of basic habits: i) Feeding and weaning ii) Toilet training iii) Restriction of Motions iv) Physical contact between mother and child 2. Child rearing pattern and socialization processes of children. i) Communication as means of socialization ii) Family as a milieu of socialization iii) Patterns of discipline (or sanction) 3. Conclusive remarks. In Chapter 1, the Freudian theories on child development, particularly those of Erikson and Ribble, are introduced, and anthropological studies related to child-rearing practices in primitive cultures made by Sapir, Benedict, M. Mead, Kardiner are reviewed. The work of Gorer, La Barre and Benedict, who studied Japanese, are specially referred to. The views of Orlansky, Sewell and Haring who were critical toward psychoanalytical theories on the basis of their own empirical observation are quoted, the results of a study of "the psychological influences of child rearing pattern" done by Ishiguro and Asahi (Japanese child-psychologists) are introduced. Tables are presented showing the time of completion of weaning among Japanese children on the basis of findings by Japanese anthropologists and pediatricians. As to customs of swaddling child and use of cradle, analyses of Erikson, Honingman and Kluckhohn are cited in order to construct a hypothesis concerning the psychological influences of the use of "Ejiko" upon development of Japanese rural children. Probable effects of close physical relationship between Japanese mother and child, which is observed in such phenomena as "Soe-ne" (sleeping together) or "Ombu" (carrying on the back) are compared with mother-child physical relationships in Western countries. In Chapter 2, the significance of child-rearing patterns, which enforce children obtain certain behavior patterns required by their society and culture, is considered after certain theoretical views of psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists on the functions of family are introduced. Child rearing patterns are shown to differ from one culture to another, from one family to another, depending upon sex, age and sibling relation of children, family structure and status, occupation, education and personality of their parents. Studies on patterns of discipline and those on the effect of parental attitude and personality of children are especially reviewed. Anthropological, sociological, sociological and psychological studies are briefly described in terms of three points: method, patterns observed, and relations between cultural patterns and personality development. In conclusion it is the authors' feeling that the importance and significance of early child-rearing patterns should not be overestimated and one should carefully observe the whole processes of socialization, which continue through late childhood and adolescence with gradual change, in order to determine the cultural components of personality development in any culture.