ABSTRACT
Although the role of the mother as primary caretaker of infants and young children seems to be a cultural universal there is enormous variation across cultures in the extent to which maternal caretaking functions are shared with others. At one extreme are groups such as the Efe pygmies of Zaire; where infants may be nursed by women other than the mother and may spend only 40% of their time with the mother (Tronick; Morelli; & W inn; 1987). At the other extreme are cultures such as modern Japan and traditional middle-class United States; where the mother is expected to carry out multiple functions of caretaker; educator., and playmate for her young offspring to the near exclusion of other adults and children.
