3-017 - Parents' ethnotheories of the nature, causes and management of child adjustment outcomes

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

In all cultures, parents have ideas about how children should behave and about how to promote their learning and development. These are examples of ethnotheories: intuitive beliefs that are shared by members of a cultural group (Harkness et al. 2010). Ethnotheories reflect how caregivers define appropriate vs maladaptive behaviors based on cultural norms. They also shape how caregivers explain and manage children’s behaviors. Yet, ethnotheories are not static characteristics and caregivers’ beliefs about desirable characteristics of children may change because of socioeconomic conditions. Moreover, conventional “Eastern” vs “Western” comparisons may not capture the heterogeneity and the complexity of cultural beliefs within so-called “Eastern” and “Western” cultural groups. To address these issues, in this symposium, we present three papers that highlight the importance of examining parents’ ethnotheories of children’s behaviors and parenting within far east Asian, North American, and European cultures. The first paper presents findings on concepts of maladaptive behavior and causal attributions for children’s misbehaviors among US and Chinese (Beijing) mothers. The second paper presents findings on the long-term goals and socialization strategies among local and Mainland immigrant mothers of shy kindergarteners in Hong Kong. The third paper presents findings on the concepts of a good parent and a good parent-child relationship of Sicilian (Southern Italian) mothers. The papers will be followed by an integrative discussion that identifies both common and culture-specific themes and issues addressed by the three papers, and offers suggestions for research and practice related to children from diverse backgrounds.

Sub Unit

• Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Chair

• Ka I Ip, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Discussant

• Sara Harkness, U. of Connecticut

Individual Presentations

• Parents’ ethnotheories of the nature and causes of children’s maladaptive behaviors among Chinese and US mothers - Presenting Author: Ka I Ip, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor; Non-Presenting Author: Sheryl Olson, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Developmental Goals and Socialization Strategies of Local and Immigrant Mothers of Shy Children in Hong Kong - Presenting Author: Jia Li Liu, University of Maryland, College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Sara Harkness, U. of Connecticut; Non-Presenting Author: Florrie Fei-Yin Ng, Chinese University of Hong Kong; Non-Presenting Author: Charles M. Super, University of Connecticut; Non-Presenting Author: Linda Citlali Halgunseth, UConn

• The Good Parent: Southern Italian Mothers’ Conceptualization of Good Parenting and Parent-Child Relationships - Presenting Author: Maria Grazia Lo Cricchio, University of Palermo; Non-Presenting Author: Alida Lo Coco, University of Palermo; Non-Presenting Author: Charissa S. L. Cheah, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Non-Presenting Author: Francesca Liga, University of Messina