Mother, Father, and Child Beliefs about Child Development

Abstract Beliefs about children and child development of mothers and fathers were compared and those of parents and their 11-year-old children. The beliefs dealt with the degree of influence parents have over development and the importance of given characteristics in children. Mothers (n = 50), fathers (n = 50), and children (25 boys and 25 girls) were interviewed separately. The interview dealt with 22 characteristics of children. Parents and children revealed little agreement. Comparisons between mothers and fathers differed somewhat as a function of the type of analysis. As groups they differed on only 25% of items, suggesting more similarities than differences in the beliefs of mothers and fathers. However, when mothers and fathers within families were compared there was little agreement. More account may need to be taken of the pattern of beliefs and behavior within families and ways families differ in their patterns as well as how mothers and fathers as groups differ.