rocess as this takes place during infancy. During this process, which can be described as a “getting to know you” period, the child develops a bond with the family. The child copies the behaviour of the parents, respond to the approval and disapproval of the parents and also learns the language and develops social etiquette. While the father helps in this process the mother is instrumental because of the natural bond which exist between mother and child. Psychoanalysis, Erikson (1973) research on psychosocial development proved that; “During the oral-sensory stage which is between birth and eighteen months, the basic crisis centers around the development of either trust or mistrust”. A child is completely dependent on others for the fulfillment of his needs e.g. feeding. If these needs are consistently satisfied and if he receives love and stimulation he will develop a sense of trust, not only in others but also in himself. If, on the other hand, his needs are not satisfied regularly and he receives little love, attention and stimulation, he will develop a sense of mistrust. The presence of the mother at this stage of development is important because of the mother child relationship and it is therefore easier for the mother to successful guide the child through this stage of development. The deterioration of family norms and values has been attributed to the absence of women in the home. When a child enters society they must learn specific guidelines, which determines acceptable and appropriate behaviour within a culture or society. In short they must learn what is right and what is wrong. These “rights and wrongs” are the norms of a society. The child would be taught general social conducts i.e. appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. Again the mother is normally the chief individual who ensures that these norms are upheld and failure to do so would result in the use of positive of negative s...
