When Do Noncompliant Children Comply?

Abstract

This study provides a descriptive account of the conditions under which noncompliant children referred to a family therapy program complied, failed to comply, or ignored the commands-prohibitions issued by their parents. Forty-two children were observed in the course of their interactions with parents at home prior to intervention. Results showed that children obeyed their mothers and fathers approximately as often, even though father issues half as many instructions as mothers. Instructions that were aversive, vague, or accompanied by physical contact between parent and child were associated with reduced compliance and, in general, increased ignoring, rather than increased noncompliance. Only physical instructions were accompanied by increased noncompliance. The practical implications of these results for family behavior therapy are discussed.