MOTHER-CHILD MUTUALLY POSITIVE AFFECT, THE QUALITY OF CHILD COMPLIANCE TO REQUESTS AND PROHIBITIONS, AND MATERNAL CONTROL AS CORRELATES OF EARLY INTERNALIZATION

Motivationally distinct forms of child compliance, mutually positive a ffect, and maternal control, observed in 3 control context in 103 dyad s of mothers and their 26-41-month-old children, were examined as corr elates of internalization, assessed using observations of children whi le alone with prohibited temptations and maternal ratings. One form of compliance (committed compliance), when the child appeared committed wholeheartedly to the maternal agenda and eager to endorse and accept it, was emphasized. Mother-child mutually positive affect was both a p redictor and a concomitant of committed compliance. Children who share d positive affect with their mothers showed a high level of committed compliance and were also more internalized. Differences and similariti es between children's compliance to requests and prohibitions (''Do'' vs. ''Don't'' demand contexts) were also explored. Maternal ''Dos'' ap peared more challenging to toddlers than the ''Don'ts.'' Some individu al coherence of behavior was also found across both demand contexts. T he implications of committed compliance for emerging internalized regu lators of conduct are discussed.