Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
Imprinting01:22

Imprinting

Behavioral imprinting is observed in some newborn animals and occurs when they develop strong and specific attachments to another animal (usually a parent) following brief, early-life exposures. Offspring imprint onto parents within a brief period after birth or hatching; this time window is called the critical period. Once imprinting occurs, the bond established between the parents and their offspring is usually long-lasting.
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral01:16

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral

The oral stage is the initial phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, occurring from birth to approximately 12 to 18 months. During this period, the infant's mouth serves as the primary source of pleasure, with actions such as sucking, chewing, biting, and drinking playing a crucial role in reducing tension. These activities are essential not only for nourishment but also for the infant's psychological and emotional satisfaction.
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
The Mammary Glands01:12

The Mammary Glands

The female breast is a hemispheric projection of variable size positioned anterior to the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles. A fascia layer composed of dense, irregular connective tissue connects it to these muscles.
Each breast features a pigmented projection known as the nipple, through which milk emerges via closely spaced openings of ducts, referred to as lactiferous ducts. Surrounding the nipple is a circular pigmented area of skin named the areola, which appears rough due to...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

It Takes a Village, and We Are That Village.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2026
Same journal

Target-Guided Milk Expression to Improve Early Milk Volume in Mothers of Late Preterm Infants During Separation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2026
Same journal

Factors Influencing Fresh Mother's Own Milk Feeding Frequency in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Retrospective Study.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2026
Same journal

A Renewed Call to Action for Breastfeeding Support: Let's Collaborate.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2026
Same journal

Improving Access to Hospital-Grade Breast Pumps for Women with Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2026
Same journal

Examining Relationships Between Multiple Adverse Social Determinants of Health, Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Timing of Solid Food Introduction, and Breastfeeding Duration Among Black or African American Women.

Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Breastfeeding: an emotional instinct.

Gonzalo Díaz Meneses1

  • 1Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, The Canary Islands, Spain. gdiaz@dede.ulpgc.es

Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
|February 9, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Breastfeeding is primarily an emotional experience, not a rational decision, with emotional and cognitive aspects developing independently. This finding suggests a new approach to understanding breastfeeding mothers.

More Related Videos

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period
06:40

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period
06:40

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Maternal Health
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Breastfeeding is a complex behavior influenced by various factors.
  • Existing research often emphasizes cognitive aspects of breastfeeding.
  • The role of emotions in the breastfeeding experience requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the significance of emotions in the breastfeeding experience relative to cognition.
  • To analyze the connection between emotions, cognition, and breastfeeding behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Empirical research utilizing questionnaires administered to breastfeeding mothers.
  • Data collected from 311 mothers in a maternity hospital setting.
  • Analysis focused on cognitive and emotional aspects of breastfeeding.

Main Results:

  • Breastfeeding is predominantly an emotional reaction rather than a rational decision.
  • Emotional development in breastfeeding is independent of cognitive processes.
  • The study highlights the distinct roles of emotion and cognition in breastfeeding.

Conclusions:

  • A novel perspective is introduced, complementing cognitive theories with the importance of emotional understanding.
  • Effective interventions should consider the emotional needs of breastfeeding mothers.
  • Findings offer practical implications for social marketing and future research in maternal health.