The dual nature of the womb and its implications for music therapy

Abstract

The objective of the present article is to portray the nature of the auditory experience in the womb and to hypothesize on its implications for music therapy. Based on current research about the auditory environment in the womb, this article suggests a model that describes “the dual nature of the womb.” This model suggests that the womb is not only a calm and peaceful environment for the fetus, but that it also has a chaotic and tense side to it. The article considers the writings of three psychologists who referred to fetal sound environment and to its psychological implications after birth. Finally, three clinical cases studies from music therapy are used to illustrate the dual nature of the womb model.

Keywords:

• fetal development
• fetal sound environment
• music therapy
• maternal stress
• conditioning; imprinting

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Tali Akerman, Elena Salman, and Noa Zeevi, three wonderful music therapists, who were kind enough to share with me their clinical ‘fetal’ moments, moments which served as the basis for the vignettes described in this article.

Notes

1. In reverse imprinting, an organism withdraws from another organism or stimulus as a result of close proximity to it in the critical period.

2. All names in this section have been changed.

3. The cases that are presented in this section are taken from experienced music therapists who responded to my request to describe clinical moments which they thought had reflected fetal states.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Avi Gilboa

Avi Gilboa, Ph.D., is a music therapist with experience with autistic children, hospitalized children, and children with severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He is currently a lecturer in the Music Therapy Program at Bar-Ilan University, and is head of the music therapy program for ultra-orthodox women in Jerusalem. His fields of research include music therapy, social and cultural aspects of music, music and emotions, musical development, and the development of a graphical notation system for music therapists.