A Longitudinal Study of Mothers' and Preschool Children's Aversive Behaviors During Dyadic Interactions

Abstract

The development of self-regulation of preschool children (21-48 months old) was explored by assessing age-related changes in (a) children's aversive behaviors (e.g., noncompliance, physically negative behavior), (b) mothers' aversive behaviors, and (c) each party's reinforcement of the other's aversive behaviors. Mother-child interactions of 44 dyads were observed in a variety of experimental situations. The results indicated a decrease in aversive behaviors of children and a parallel decrease in mothers' aversive and reinforcing behaviors. These findings, as well as concurrent associations between mother and child behaviors, provide evidence of mother-child reciprocity in the development of self-regulation.