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Abstract

Reproductive behavior, especially in mammals, includes various types of social interactions. The generation of new descendents, for many species, initially involves interactions between males and females (courtship and mating). With the birth of pups, the mother, father and offspring each play a role in a dynamic and interdependent system. The need for parental care differs in accordance with the pu`s physical condition at birth. In most rodent species, pups are highly dependent on maternal care for survival.  Although in some species paternal care has been observed, to rear pups is predo minantly the domain of the dam.  The main aim of the present article is to demonstrate the empirical evidence and theoretical assumptions which characterize the maternal and paternal behavior in rodents as distinct motivational systems which are capable of interacting in an interdependent form.  Family behavior are described in the context of a dynamic network of interactions (mother- father, parents – pups,) occurring in an asymmetric fashion. Extending from this article, comparative analysis among different species, which shows different forms of social organization, in the context of evolutionary theory, will uncover empirical proofs and theoretical constructs, interaction and, conflicts among mother, father and offspring.