HOW DO JAPANESE MOTHERS TREAT CHILDRENS NEGATIVISM

This study examined the thinking of Japanese mothers (N = 95) concerni ng the negative and self-assertive behavior of 2;5 and 3;5 year old ch ildren. A short structured interview was conducted with middle class m others to (1) ascertain their ideas about the reasons for and the deve lopment of negativism and self-assertion, and (2) clarify how mothers respond to such behavior. The results made it clear such childrearing issues as autonomy, negativism, self-assertion, and indeed ego develop ment have a different meaning in the Japanese cultural context than in the Western context from which these psychological terms have been de rived. Mothers appeared to be in conflict because they are told to acc ept negativism and noncompliance as normal and necessary developmental ly, even though noncompliant and self-assertive behavior seem to be un acceptable behavior after early Japanese childhood. The results are di scussed in terms of implications for childrearing and socialization mo dels, and indicate that traditional Western theories of individuation and autonomy cannot be simply transplanted into the developmental stud y of Japanese children.