What sort of mother provokes excessive crying in her infant? Five such mothers were studied during the first six or more months in the lives of their crying infants. The fathers were interviewed at least once. Conclusions are tentative.

The five mothers were alike in finding it hard to accept their roles as mothers. They viewed femininity as a deprived, suffering, inferior state. It is not simply the presence of guilt or hostility in the mother that makes for the excessively crying infant; rather it is the intensity of the feelings and the mother's anxiety about handling the infant. This anxiety is a defense against hostile or libidinal interests; it produces the neglect that leads to the chronic crying.