Class Differences in the Socialization Practices of Negro Mothers

Class differences in the socialization practices of Negro mothers were investigated in the context of their child-rearing goals. Direct observation of mother-child interactions in the homes and a card-sorting method of studying child-rearing goals led to the conclusion that middleand lower-lower-class Negro mothers do not differ fundamentally in their goals, but they differ considerably in their socialization practices. The relationship of these practices to the development of anaclitic identification, internal controls, and subsequent conformity to society's norms was discussed, along with the implication of these conclusions for education.