DEVELOPMENTAL EXPECTATIONS OF DUTCH, TURKISH-DUTCH, AND ZAMBIAN MOTHERS - TOWARDS AN EXPLANATION OF CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

In this study, three models of cross-cultural differences of developme ntal expectations by parents were examined. The domain dependence mode l holds that differences vary across psychological domains such as per ception and cognition. The cumulative differences model states that cr oss-cultural differences increase with age. The context variables mode l holds that cross-cultural differences in developmental expectations are mainly a function of background variables such as differences in p arental education. The expectations of mothers in three different cult ures were examined. Sixty eight Dutch, 50 Turkish Dutch (Turkish women living in The Netherlands), and 69 Zambian mothers were asked to indi cate the expected age of mastery for each of 77 skills, covering a bro ad range of behaviours. Zambian mothers expected most skills to develo p at a later age than did Dutch and Turkish-Dutch mothers. Partial sup port was obtained for each model. Tentative evidence was obtained that the domain dependence model could explain most and the cumulative dif ferences model the least cross-cultural differences.