The Psychology of Reproduction

摘要

This study analyzed the data in the Psychology of Reproduction Study of more than 1,000 18-27 year old, white women living in the San Francisco Bay area who were interviewed yearly for three years. The purpose of the study was to understand the psychological determinants of childbearing and of the various behaviors and events that affect childbearing. It was found that the biological capacity to conceive, proception and contraception are the primary determinants of conception among married women. Seven aspects of couple interaction are relevant to reproduction: communication, conflict, influence, decision-making, bonding, division of labor, and adaptation to change. The first four of these directly affect the psychological sequence that leads to childbearing. Bonding affects marriage and marital dissolution. The latter respectively facilitate and inhibit the occurrence of childbearing. Female role performace and female role orientation also affect the psychological sequence that leads to childbearing. Reproduction-related events such as birth, induced abortion, marriage, and marital dissolution have important effects on childbearing expectations. Employment status has only a small effect on childbearing expectations and behavior at several points in the antecedent psychological sequence. However, childbearing expectations and the number of children at home have a substantial effect on work status.