Parent-child interaction and conduct disorder

Abstract

This paper reviews" recent research on the role of parent-child interaction in the etiology of children's conduct disorder. It examh~es the role of social and family factors in conduct disorder and the possible mechanisms by which these contextual factors might affect parent-child interaction and child problem behavior. A major focus is on research that has compared the patterns of interaction in families with and without conduct-disordered children, using observational methods; in order to test different theoretical explanations about how conduct disorder develops and is maintained. Further research is needed

The Quality of Joint Activity Between Mothers and Their Children with Behaviour Problems

“…Maccoby (1980) has argued that a number of qualities are important in reducing the likelihood of child behaviour problems, including a history of mutually rewarding activities, the parent's warmth and willingness to comply with reasonable demands from the child (Parpal & Maccoby, 1985), and the sensitivity of their attempts at control. These arguments are echoed by other researchers (Dowdney, 1985;Gardner, 1987Gardner, , 1992Pettit 8c Bates, 1989;Robinson, 1985).…”

Like father, like son: Toward a developmental model for the transmission of male deviance across generations

“…In addition, escalations of negative family interaction were found in families of aggressive children (Snyder, Edwards, McGraw, Kilgore, & Holton, 1994). Observation of family interaction reveals that inconsistent parenting in limit-setting episodes unwittingly results in the escape conditioning of aversive or noncompliant child behaviour (Gardner, 1992). Most convincing are studies showing that interventions that improve family management reduce coercion and result in benefits to the child's behaviour (Dishion, Patterson, & Kavanagh, 1992;Forgatch, 1991;Forgatch & DeGarmo, 1999;Martinez & Forgatch, 2001;Webster-Stratton, 1990).…”

Fortnightly review: Aggressive behaviour in childhood

“…In many families with antisocial children the parents do little to encourage polite or considerate behaviour by the child-such behaviour is often ignored and rendered ineffective 16. Yet frequently when the child yells or has a tantrum he or she gets attention; often the parent gives in, so the child wins and soon learns to adapt accordingly.…”