Sequential analyses in coercive mother-child interaction: the predictability hypothesis in abusive versus nonabusive dyads

A two-fold purpose guided the present study: 1) To test the sequential relationship between the child's aversive behavior and both the predictability and the compliance episodes, as well as the sequential relationship between these two mothering episodes proposed by the new predictability hypothesis (Wahler, Williams, & Cerezo, 1990); 2) to explore whether or not these patterns are specific to these dysfunctional dyads by using a nonabusive comparison group.

Fifty mother-child dyads, 25 abusive and 25 nonabusive, participated in this study. Lag sequential analyses were carried out on 302 hours of direct observation, 178 hours in the abusive group, and 124 in the nonabusive group.

Results of the sequential analyses showed that the predictions derived from the compliance and predictability hypotheses were supported in both groups. The only difference between the groups lies in the new predictability hypothesis, so the two mothering reactions are not sequentially related in the nonabusive group.

This study revealed interesting findings which suggest that these patterns are also found in nonabusive mother-child interactions, but there is a qualitative difference between the groups.