Effect of an Observer'S Presence on the Behavior of Middle- and Working-Class Mothers

Abstract

Summary Although the problem of observer influence has been the subject of several recent studies, little has been done to compare the extent of this influence for other than middle-class Ss. It was proposed that since working-class mothers have less familiarity with university settings, they may be more inhibited when observed than are middle-class mothers. Working-class (N = 20) and middle-class American mothers (N = 20) and infants were observed in a laboratory playroom, both when they were aware, and also when they were unaware of being observed. The results showed the working-class mothers tended to be more sensitive, and to react to awareness of observation by reducing the frequency of their behaviors, compared to middle-class mothers.