The Couvade: A Psychological Analysis

Cross-Cultural Surveys Today

“…Gender-identity theory predicts that male initiations will occur when adult gender roles are strongly differentiated and yet mother-child households foster an early identification of the boy with his mother; here transformation to a secure masculine identity is required at puberty. Munroe et al (69,70) extend the theory by showing that conditions fostering male cross-sex identity, in the absence of strongly differ entiated adult roles, predict the couvade, defensive masculinity, and the absence of initiations.…”

“…Reproductive rituals have long been a focus of gender-identity theories: A series of studies examine male and female initiations at puberty (9,20,91,Il l,112,132), adolescent sexual behavior (12,13), menstrual taboos (91), couvade (69), and post-partum sex taboos (109,129). Gender-identity theory predicts that male initiations will occur when adult gender roles are strongly differentiated and yet mother-child households foster an early identification of the boy with his mother; here transformation to a secure masculine identity is required at puberty.…”

Couvade Syndrome among Polish expectant fathers

“…In the classic form, the father enacts a childbirth scene, imitating symptoms experienced by the mother, also in labour. However, as concluded by Munroe et al [6] in their cross-cultural studies, the most frequently observed form is the magico-religious one, which is associated with a specific set of prohibitions for male behaviour such as a ban on hunting or eating specific foods. At the same time, on an unconscious level, the man is to go back to an identification with women.…”

“…The ritual form was practised as early as in ancient Greece, and is still found among so-called primitive societies The modern type refers to pregnancy-like symptoms which are observed amongst the partners of pregnant women. Munroe et al [6]; cf. Broude, [7] distinguish two forms of the Couvade Syndrome, namely: 1) classical or extreme and 2) magico-religious.…”

Couvade Syndrome and Health Status of The First Trimester of Primigravida

“…The modern type refers to pregnancy-like symptoms which are observed amongst the partners of pregnant women. Munroe et al (1973), Broude (1988) distinguish two forms of the Couvade Syndrome, namely:1) classical or extreme and 2) magio-religius. In the classic form, the father enacts a childbirth sc ene, imitating symptoms experienced by the mother, also in labour.…”