Argentine mothers and fathers and the new psychological paradigm of child-rearing (1958-1973)

Abstract

This article examines how mothers and fathers in Argentina dealt with the shift in child-rearing paradigm that occurred in the 1960s, drawing on the views of the parents themselves. The analysis is based on 1,100 questions posed by audiences in a series of conferences delivered by two renowned experts in the field, who championed the new parenting paradigm that advocated the psychologization of childcare. It also makes use of other sources, including books, articles, reports, and letters. On the one hand, the study reveals the complexity of the cultural change that affected ideas on child-rearing and family relations during that period. On the other, it shows that parents were key actors in this process and that they acted based on their own interpretations and experiences.