1994 Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 123-136
Processes of transition to motherhood were analyzed in a two-year longitudinal survey. Three mothers who had experienced crisis following the birth of their babies participated. Their difficulties were accentuated by a vicious circle by which they selectively focused on the negative aspects of events. When mothers were able to focus on happie revents, positive and reward-producing transactions were observed and their problems gradually diminished. The opportunities for such changes and processes were unique for each mother, but there were also some common features. Opprtunities for change hung on events out of their control, and the outcomes of these events were unexpected and rewarding for them. Mothers had been in tightly blocked situations, but the more they attended to happier events, the better their situations became. This was because the vicious circles were broken and replaced through transactional processes with positive circles. Moreover, the mothers attained more receptive attitudes toward their babies and more openness and intimacy to their husbands. These results were discussed as examples of adult development.
