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Interpersonal Influence in Family Systems: A Social Relations Model Analysis
Author(s) -
Cook William L.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8624.00341
Subject(s) - psychology , reciprocal , developmental psychology , interpersonal communication , social psychology , social relation , interpersonal relationship , parenting styles , style (visual arts) , interpersonal interaction , observational study , compliance (psychology) , medicine , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology , pathology , history
Is parental control of a child's behavior due to the parenting style of the parent (e.g., authoritative parenting), the child's inclination toward compliance (i.e., an “easy” child), or the reciprocal system of parent–child exchange? This study addressed this question, as well as the broader one of who drives the interaction whenever one family member influences another. Family members from 208 two‐parent two‐child families of adolescents rated the degree to which each person in the family influenced each of the other family members. Social relations analysis of these data indicated that characteristics of the partner and the unique actor–partner “fit” were systematic sources of interpersonal influence, and that reciprocal influence was present in most — but not all — family dyads. A pattern in which parents compensate for each other's influenceability was also found. It is recommended that these findings be replicated using observational data that have been sequentially analyzed.