Timetable of Psychological and Behavioural Autonomy Expectations among Parents from Israel and the Former Soviet Union

Abstract

The impact of culture on parental expectations for child development has been the focus of extensive investigation since the early 1980s. The present study examined the relationship between culture and parental timetables among a sample of 73 Israeli-born parents and 74 immigrant parents from the former Soviet Union. The participants responded to 57 questions related to behavioural and psychological aspects of autonomy. The results portray the conflicting expectations faced by immigrant children at home and in the host culture. Moreover, the paper provides new insights into aspects of behavioural and psychological autonomy and offers methods for their operationalization. Depuis le debut des annees 1980, de nombreuses recherches ont analyse l'impact de l'origine culturelle sur les attentes des parents envers le developpement de leur enfant. Cette etude examine la relation entre l'origine culturelle et le calendrier developpemental des parents dans un echantillon de 73 parents nes en Israel et 74 parents immigrants de l'ex-Union Sovietique. Les participants repondent a 57 questions sur les aspects comportementaux et psychologiques de l'autonomie. Les resultats indiquent que les enfants immigrants font face a des attentes conflictuelles a la maison et dans la culture d'accueil. De plus, l'article fournit de nouvelles pistes sur l'autonomie comportementale et psychologique et offrent de nouvelles methodes pour leur operationnalisation.