Conflicts between Mothers and Their Young Children.

Abstract

Conflicts between mothers and their 4-year-old children were examined to illustrate how studying conflict can contribute to knowledge about development. Research on discipline and compliance is reviewed to show how important skills that children demonstrate during conflict negotiation have been overlooked. Mother-child pairs (n = 80) made tape-recordings while baking biscuits and riding in the car, yielding 833 conflicts. Opposition to factual statements met least often with further opposition, and mothers conceded more during factual disputes. Arguments involving noncompliance included more justification and more negative affect. Children indicated an implicit understanding of social rules by avoiding explicit disagreement; curtailing opposition when mothers explicitly said no or gave a reason; offering justification most often when instigating opposition or behaving noncompliantly; and being more insistent in the face of opposition to statements of intention than to requests.