COMPLIANCE AND SELF-ASSERTION - YOUNG CHILDRENS RESPONSES TO MOTHERS VERSUS FATHERS

To provide data on the development of compliance and self-assertion to ward mothers and fathers, 2-, 4-, and 6-year-old children were observe d in their homes. Compared with younger children, older children were more compliant, more likely to use logical argument, and less likely t o ignore or to show defiance. Two-year-olds showed more ignoring of th eir fathers, whereas 4-year-olds were more ignoring of their mothers a nd showed greater compliance to their fathers. Regardless of age, boys showed higher levels of compliance to their fathers, whereas girls di d not respond differentially to mothers or fathers. Girls were, howeve r, more likely to state their desires and preferences and to use logic al argument. Further analyses suggested that none of the gender differ ences in child response were apparent artifacts of differences in pare ntal treatment.