育児書による比較社会化論の試み

スポックと松田道雄

抄録

　A good deal of observtional data on socialization in various societies is now available, but these has been little cross-cultural analysis, particularly of child-rearing manuals. In this paper we try to analyze such books from Japan and the U.S.A. and point out the differences between them.
　Child-rearing manuals were chosen as the data source because, since most families are now nuclear, there is less chance for practical skills and knowledges on child rearing to be handed down from grandmothers to mothers. Of the other sources of infomation mothers are most likely to rely on child-rearing manuals, which seem to fill the communication gap between generations. We chose Baby and Child Care by Benjamin Spock and Ikuji-no-hyakka (Encyclopedia on Child Rearing) by Michio Matsuda, which are supposed to be the most widely read in each society. A Japanese translation of Dr.Spock is also available in Japan.
　The points of comparison are as follows: (1) the goal of child rearing and its social background, (2) child rearing practices, (3) the author's conception of children, values, and world views. The practices discussed in the books are the means of achieving the goal which is to be regulated by the ideas of the　author.
　Though Japanese culture has been westernized since Meiji Era (especially Americanized after the defeat in World War II), the basic features of child rearing remain in contrast to those in U.S.A. Spock advises parents to control their children rigidly according to rules akd not to allow them to diverge from a normative course of development so that they will develop into independent persons. On the other hand, Matsuda believes that every child will arrive at adulthood sooner or later, regardless of disciplinary planning. Then he tells mothers that they need not seriously concern themselves about whether or not their children reach a given developmental level at a certain age.
　In a word, Spock emphasises a monopolized control of children and shows an individual-centered orientation. On the contrary, Matsuda stresses the acceptance of the "nature" of children and shows a group-centered orientation. In this case the term "natures" means what children are invested with when they come into existence. He expects children to grow up naturally without severe control by parents. The principles advocated by the two authors reflect their cultural backgrounds. For Matsuda, such basic concepts or values of the Japanese as "Hito-to-hito-tono-aida" (the midle ground between two persons) by Bin Kimura and/or "Kanjinshugi" (Contextualism) by Esyun Hamaguchi will correlate with his principle.　Finally I must mention that this comparative research has led us to discover that the concept of "socialization" itstlf is rooted in the Western climate of thought like the individualism upon which Spock's principles are based.