good enough mother
Winnicott's concept of maternal care that meets the infant's needs adequately without being perfect, facilitating healthy development.
Full Definition
Donald Winnicott's concept of the 'good enough mother' describes maternal care that provides adequate responsiveness to an infant's needs while allowing for manageable frustrations that promote psychological growth. This approach contrasts with both neglectful and overly intrusive mothering, enabling the development of a true self rather than a compliant false self. The concept has broadened beyond literal mothering to describe any caregiving relationship that balances support with appropriate challenge. Editorial precision requires understanding this as a technical term, not a judgment of parenting quality.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as compound modifier; capitalize when referring to Winnicott's specific concept.
In Context
- "The therapist aimed to provide a good-enough-mother function in the treatment relationship." — Clinical supervision
- "Good enough mothering allows for the development of healthy frustration tolerance in children." — Developmental psychology text