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Function and Content of Maternal Demands: Developmental Significance of Early Demands for Competent Action
Author(s) -
Kuczynski Leon,
Kochanska Grazyna
Publication year - 1995
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/j.1467-8624.1995.tb00893.x
Subject(s) - psychology , prosocial behavior , developmental psychology , competence (human resources) , social psychology , social competence , action (physics) , cognition , function (biology) , social environment , social change , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , evolutionary biology , political science , law , economics , biology , economic growth
The sources and effects of mothers' demands upon children were examined during naturalistic interactions of 70 mothers and their 1 1/2–3 1/2‐year‐olds. Demands were categorized in terms of immediate function (e.g., do's vs. don'ts) and content area emphasized by mothers (e.g., competent action, appropriate behavior, caretaking). Children's age and oppositional behavior influenced the nature of mothers' demands. Mothers with authoritative child‐rearing attitudes emphasized proactive, competence‐oriented demands and avoided regulatory controls. Maternal demands for competent action (prosocial behavior, chores, cognitive/play) predicted enhanced compliance and fewer behavior problems at age 5. Demands focused on the regulation of personal and social behavior predicted more behavior problems at age 5. We propose that children's personal and social competence emerges from pressures for instrumentally competent behavior in a harmonious interactive context.