Ethnic Category Labels, Parental Beliefs, and the Contextualized Individual: An Exploration of the Individualism - Sociocentrism Debate

Objective. Research has suggested that parenting practices reflect cultural meaning systems. Recent debate regarding the use of individualism and sociocentrism as broad constructs that describe parents' cultural meaning systems have centered on the adequacy of such terms to capture the multiplicity of individual orientations that exist within any group. Concomitantly, concerns have been raised that ethnic category labels may be combined with the use of such constructs in a stereotypical way. Design. This study examines group differences and similarities in the relative importance of individualistic versus sociocentric childrearing values as expressed in the long-term socialization goals of 106 middle-class European American and Puerto Rican mothers of infants aged 8 through 18 months. Analyses were conducted using both conventional statistics and statistical tools developed within the field of anthropology. Results. Analyses indicate the existence of coherent belief patterns across the 2 groups, as well as of considerable heterogeneity within both groups. In particular, a majority of European American mothers express long-term goals that emphasize more individualistic goals, such as the child's maximization of the self, whereas a majority of Puerto Rican mothers articulate beliefs that focus on more sociocentric goals, such as the child's proper demeanor. However, within each group considerable heterogeneity exists as well. Conclusions. Additional research is needed regarding factors associated with differing childrearing goals and their implications for the organization of parent - child interactions among diverse groups.