MOTHER-CHILD MUTUALLY POSITIVE AFFECT, THE QUALITY OF CHILD COMPLIANCE TO REQUESTS AND PROHIBITIONS, AND MATERNAL CONTROL AS CORRELATES OF EARLY INTERNALIZATION

Motivationally distinct forms of child compliance, mutually positive affect, and maternal control, observed in 3 control context in 103 dyads of mothers and their 26-41-month-old children, were examined as correlates of internalization, assessed using observations of children while alone with prohibited temptations and maternal ratings. One form of compliance (committed compliance), when the child appeared committed wholeheartedly to the maternal agenda and eager to endorse and accept it, was emphasized. Mother-child mutually positive affect was both a predictor and a concomitant of committed compliance. Children who shared positive affect with their mothers showed a high level of committed compliance and were also more internalized. Differences and similarities between children's compliance to requests and prohibitions (''Do'' vs. ''Don't'' demand contexts) were also explored. Maternal ''Dos'' appeared more challenging to toddlers than the ''Don'ts.'' Some individual coherence of behavior was also found across both demand contexts. The implications of committed compliance for emerging internalized regulators of conduct are discussed.