Psychological Control, Maternal Emotion and Cognition, and Child Outcomes in Individualist and Collectivist Groups

Abstract

SUMMARY This article presents data that explores the phenomenon of psychological control in a group of mothers from individualist backgrounds (West-European) and a group of mothers from collectivist backgrounds (Middle Eastern and South Asian). It is argued that measures of psychological control may reflect maladaptive processes in individualist groups, but they do not necessarily reflect maladaptive processes in collectivist groups. In this study, the collectivist group scored higher on psychological control than the individualist group. However, the collectivist group did not exhibit elevated levels of maladaptive maternal emotions and cognitions, or maladaptive child outcomes (school grades and self-esteem). Finally, psychological control was associated with maladaptive maternal cognitions in the individualist, but not the collectivist group.