Parental dominance-passivity and behavior problems of children.

Abstract

This study of 30 families involved in family therapy treatment showed that it is possible to differentiate both mothers and fathers along a clearly denned dimension of dominance-passivity. When parents are grouped in varying configurations of dominance-passivity, male and female children in the different groupings differ in the frequency of their reported behavior problems. The parental configuration of a dominant mother-passive father is related to the greatest number of behavior problems for sons, while this configuration is associated with the fewest problems for daughters. Sons exhibit the fewest problems when the father is dominant, and daughters, the fewest problems when the mother is dominant, regardless of the dominance or passivity of the spouse.A number of studies have suggested that some family structures are more disturbing to the ego development of sons, while others are more harmful to daughters (Farina, 1960; Farina & Dunham, 1963;Fleck, Lidz, & Cornelison, 1963). Even more recently, such investigators as Cheek (1964, 1965), Lid/ and Fleck (1965), andMishler and Waxier (1968) have emphasized the important differences in power structure that exist between the families of schizophrenic male and schizophrenic female children. In all of the reports that have been cited, the traits of dominance or passivity seem to play an important role.The present study was designed to measure this dominance-passivity aspect of parental behavior. It compares both parents on this dimension and relates the different patterns that exist to the behavior problems that are reported to exist in the children. Unlike other studies that have focused primarily on schizophrenic children, this investigation concentrates on a wide range of children's behavior problems.

Parental conflict and dominance in late adolescent maladjustment: A triple interaction model.

“…The probability that such congruence in pattern could arise by chance cannot be readily determined but, undoubtedly, it is very low. With methods totally different from those of Gassner and Murray (1969) and Klein et al (1973), and with an older sample of subjects, we found essentially the same relationship between parental conflict, relative parental dominance, and gender of the subject. In addition, subsequent to the completion of the present study, the interaction of parental conflict and parental dominance was replicated at the .06 level of confidence for female college students, using the criterion measure of disposition to depression, based on past and present versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (Schwarz & Zuroff, 1979).…”

“…Two scales were adapted from those of Klein et al (1973), a decision-making scale and an assertiveness scale. The decision-making dominance scale contained nine items such as "Chooses family car," "Decides when to visit relatives."…”

“…In addition, the neurotic children from homes in which the mother was dominant were predominantly male, and those from homes in which the father was dominant were predominantly female. Similarly, Klein, Plutchik, and Conte (1973) found that in families who were receiving therapy, and who could be presumed to be in conflict, sons exhibited fewer problems when the father was dominant, and daughters exhibited fewer problems when the mother was dominant. Hetherington, Stouwie, and Ridberg (1971) found that families of neurotic delinquent boys were characterized by verbal aggression between the parents and maternal dominance, though the complementary pattern for neurotic delinquent girls was not obtained.…”

Parental loss, depression and violence: III. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FEMALE PRISONERS

“…Loss of the opposite-sex parent, because it is relatively less threatening to the ego structure, produces more overt signs of depression, along with some rage. Similar sexdifferentiated role problems have been reported by Klein et al (1972).…”

Childhood origins of psychopathology.

“…(Under some circumstances, divorce can decrease the probability of child disorder, following a period of initial adjustment; Hetherington, Cox, & Cox, 1979. ) The child who is firmly ensnarled by the double approachavoidance conflict, who can neither leave the field nor choose between the two parents, may be more likely to become disordered (Gassner & Murray, 1969;Klein, Plutchik, & Conte, 1973; Schwarz & Getter, Note 2). The child who can stably ally himself or herself with the same-sex parent, though unconnected, becomes chauvinistic and alienated from the opposite sex.…”