A Cross-National Study of Mother and Infant Activities and Interactions：Some Preliminary Comparisons between Japan and The United States
Year: 1987
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: It is widely thought that some psychological distinctions between Japanese and Americans arise early in life, and the nature of mother-child interaction has been hypothesized to be at least one source of these distinctions.We therefore conducted a preliminary comparison of Japanese and American mothers and their 5-month-old infants interacting in the natural setting of the home.Independent observations of 31 dyads from New York City and 31 dyads from Sapporo were submitted to identical analyses.This report focuses on maternal stimulation, speech, and social play and on infant attention, exploration, and vocalization.First, we assessed similarities and differences among Japanese and American mothers and infants on these activities.Next, we evaluated relations among mother activities within each culture and relations among infant activities within each culture and compared patterns of those relations across the two cultures.Then, we evaluated interactions among mothers and infants in each culture and compared patterns of interactions across these cultures.Finally, we addressed the question of what predictive value for children's cognitive development certain of these mother and infant activities may have.The main purpose of this study is to compare activities and interactions among Japanese and American mothers and infants.Both professional observers and lay people alike have long noted striking similarities and differences in the psychological make-ups of Japanese and Americans.Moreover, many have offered compelling rationales why the M. H.
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W90212652