Cognitive, Affective and Situational Factors in Child Rearing

• DOI: 10.1080/0305724880170206
• Publication Date: 2007-07-07T17:41:57Z
• Authors: Rachael M. Henry
• Keywords: 05 social sciences; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences

Abstract The study explores cognitive, affective and situational factors in child‐rearing and their relation to children's constructions of discipline and to the maturity of their social interactions. Subjects were 17 children aged between three years 10 months and four years 11 months and their mothers. Mothers’ individual constructions of different classes of their own and their children's transgressions were measured using two Repertory Grids. Children's constructions and feelings about a recent conflict with parents were measured by a structured interview. Their patterns of hostile behaviour were assessed with a standardized scoring system applied to diary records of directly observed social interactions at nursery school. Regarding mothers’ constructions of transgressions, the findings only partially supported an attributional analysis of parenting. Mothers were primarily concerned with the intentionality of their children's behaviour and its harm potential; they gave no more consideration to develop...