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Mutually responsive orientation between mothers and their young children: implications for early socialization
1Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1407, USA. GRAZYNA-KOCHANSKA@UIOWA.EDU
Child Development
|February 1, 1997
Summary
A strong parent-child bond, or mutually responsive orientation, fosters better socialization. High reciprocity in early childhood leads to less parental power use and greater rule internalization in children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Parent-child reciprocity is crucial for socialization but poorly understood.
- Key components include shared cooperation and positive affect.
- Maccoby highlighted its fundamental role in child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the components of mutually responsive orientation (MRO).
- To investigate the implications of MRO for maternal discipline and child internalization.
- To assess MRO's stability and impact across early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Measured mother-child cooperation and positive affect in daily interactions.
- Utilized micro- and macroscopic behavioral coding and mother self-reports.
- Assessed maternal power use and child internalization longitudinally.
Main Results:
- High MRO dyads showed less maternal power use and greater child internalization.
- MRO maintained throughout early childhood amplified these effects.
- Mothers high in empathic perspective-taking were more likely to establish reciprocity.
Conclusions:
- Mutually responsive orientation is a key factor in positive child socialization.
- Early development of reciprocity influences discipline and internalization.
- Empathic parenting supports the development of reciprocal parent-child systems.