PARENTAL REASONING COMPLEXITY, SOCIAL-CLASS, AND CHILD-REARING BEHAVIORS

The construct "parental reasoning complexity" refers to the general quality of parental cognitive functioning. This study examined whether parental reasoning complexity predicts parental behavior during interaction with the child. The sample consisted of 226 parents from various socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Assessment of parental reasoning complexity involved a semi-structured interview in which a series of questions were asked about issues related to the parent-child relationship. Measures of parental behavior involved home observations and parents' self-reports. Though both parental reasoning complexity and parental behavior showed a significant relationship with the parents' educational level and occupation, parental reasoning complexity was related to parents' behavior (both observed and self-reported) even after the effect of education and occupation was taken into account. Higher levels of reasoning were related to an authoritative pattern of child rearing, the use of indirect positive control, warmth, acceptance, and support. Negative relationships were found with an authoritarian pattern and restrictiveness.