Modification of problem interation in mother-child dyads by modeling and behavior rehearsal

Eighteen mother-child dyads who previously had reported difficulties in solving problems were assessed behaviorally in situations in which they attempted to resolve conflicts. Half the dyads then were given two treatment sessions that consisted of modeling and rehearsal designed to improve their skills in resolving problem situations. In the pretest assessment a number of significant correlations between mother and child responses were found. Notably, when mothers blamed or used direct arbitrary power with their children, the children in turn emitted oppositional behaviors, but when the mothers made tentative proposals, their children reciprocated with positive responses. In the posttest assessment, treatment mothers employed the expression of feelings to their children as a conflict resolution strategy significantly more often than did control mothers. There was also a tendency for the treatment children to acquiesce less to their mothers' demands than did control children in the problem situations.