Open AccessVARIANCE AND INVARIANCE IN THE MOTHER‐INFANT INTERACTION: A CROSS‐CULTURAL STUDY 1
Author(s) -
Lewis Michael,
Ban Peggy
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
ets research bulletin series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2333-8504
pISSN - 0424-6144
DOI - 10.1002/j.2333-8504.1973.tb00464.x
Subject(s) - variance (accounting) , context (archaeology) , developmental psychology , cross cultural , psychology , sample (material) , order (exchange) , geography , sociology , physics , anthropology , finance , economics , accounting , archaeology , business , thermodynamics
The present paper is concerned with the issue of the variance and invariance in the mother‐infant interaction. In order to study this, a sample of Yugoslavian and American mother‐infant dyads was observed in detail. Moreover, using the data available on Dutch, Zambian and Senegalese mothers and infants, five different cultures were compared. In general there was considerable agreement in terms of the caregiving the infants received. This fact was first discussed in terms of its relationship to the invariances that exist across human cultures. Also considered was the issue that the study of behavior, not studied in context, can often result in serious misinterpretation. In order to avoid this it is necessary, at least, to be totally familiar with the culture under question.