MOTHER-INFANT AND FATHER-INFANT INTERACTION BEHAVIOR

This study focused on reciprocal parent-infant behavior, an important factor in the cognitive and emotional development of the infant. Twenty 8-month-old children were videotaped alone with each parent for 10 minutes of free play in a laboratory setting. Questionnaire data on caretaking involvement were also collected. Mothers and fathers did not differ on the dimensions of contingent behavior, anti-contingent behavior, initiation behavior, "maternal" (social, toy-oriented) play style or "paternal" (physical) play style. However, caretaking involvement, as measured by the amount of time parents spent alone with their infants, was negatively related to mothers' paternal play style and positively related to fathers' paternal play style. In addition, male infants were the objects of more contingent, less initiating and less paternal behavior. The study points out the importance of focusing on similarities between maternal and paternal behavior and reveals precursors in infancy of sex-role socialization.