| Abstract: | 32 mothers and 32 fathers were shown videotapes of boys and girls performing independent and dependent behaviors. Ss were asked what they would do or say in response to the child being viewed and their responses were recorded. 13 categories of parental response and certain combinations of the categories were analyzed to examine the differential impact of childrens' independent and dependent behavior, and hypotheses regarding the reactions of cross-sex vs same-sex parents. Dependent behavior in children elicited greater encouragement of dependence and directiveness from parents, whereas independent behavior elicited greater encouragement of independence and nondirectiveness. The opposite-sex parent did not respond more directively, but the same-sex parent did respond more nondirectively. Mothers encouraged greater dependence than fathers when children were dependent, and showed a greater shift in their rewarding than fathers as children changed from independent to dependent behavior. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
