Citation

Raeff C. J. Appl. Dev. Psychol. 2000; 21(2): 183-205.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Starting from the position that independence and interdependence are common aspects of human development that are shaped by cultural traditions, this study explores how European-American cultural traditions are reflected in parents' ideas about their children's independence and interdependence. Fifty-six parents with children between 12 and 42 months old (26 boys, 30 girls) participated in a semistructured interview about children and child-rearing. The parents' ideas involved equal proportions of independence and interdependence regardless of child age or child gender, and there was a significant positive correlation between parents' ideas about independence and interdependence. The interviews also revealed that parents' ideas about independence and interdependence are multidimensional. The study moves beyond dichotomous views of independence and interdependence, and the results are discussed further in relation to cultural values.