Psychology

Maternal control style and the mastery motivation of one‐year‐olds

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Forty‐one mothers and their 12‐month‐old infants participated in a study of the effects of maternal control style on infant mastery motivation. Three scales were designed to assess maternal control style during a mother‐infant play session. Mastery motivation was assessed in an experimenter‐administered structured toy play procedure. Three components, persistence, competence, and affect, comprised the measure of mastery motivation. Mothers also completed questionnaires on child‐rearing attitudes, infant temperament, and control style. Results showed that maternal attitudes and behavior were correlated with infant mastery motivation. More specifically: autonomy‐oriented control behavior, sensitive care and knowledge of child‐rearing were positively related to infant mastery motivation. The results provide converging evidence regarding the multiple aspects of maternal behavior which affect infant motivation. Copyright © 1984 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health

Publication Title

Infant Mental Health Journal

Publication Date

1984

Volume

5

Issue

2

First Page

72

Last Page

82

ISSN

0163-9641

DOI

10.1002/1097-0355(198422)5:2<72::AID-IMHJ2280050203>3.0.CO;2-O

Keywords

maternal control style & sensitivity & childrearing attitudes, attachment security, mothers & their infants observed at 12 & 20 mo old

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS