Parent and child representations of social relationships: Linkages between families and peers

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Abstract

The current study was designed to explore the similarities between social-cognitive representations of relationships of mothers and their children. Fourth and fifth graders (n = 42) and their mothers participated. Each participant independently responded to a series of hypothetical social dilemmas involving peer and family contexts. Results indicated that maternal and child cognitions are related, but the relations are highly dependent upon the component of social cognition (e.g., attributions, anticipation of consequences, or goals) as well as the type of dilemma (e.g., ambiguous provocation, mild rejection, or conflict resolution) and the social context (e.g., family or peers). Results are discussed in terms of the role of parent and child cognitions as possible mediators of family-peer linkages.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalMerrill-Palmer Quarterly
Volume42
StatePublished - Jan 1 1996

Disciplines

  • Psychology

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