PERCEIVED MATERNAL CHILD-REARING EXPERIENCE AND THE EFFECTS OF VICARIOUS AND DIRECT REINFORCEMENT ON MALES

Abstract

This experiment related perceived maternal child-rearing experience (4 high and low combinations of control and nurturance), as reported by lateadolescent males, to the effects of vicarious and direct social reinforcement. These relationships were compared for positive and negative reinforcement conditions. Expected vicarious and direct reinforcement efects upon achievement motivation were found for high-control/low-nurturance and low-control/low-nurturance Ss but not for the high-nurturance groups. Oppositedirection interactions were found for the high-control/low-nurturance and low-control/high-nurturance groups when perceptual-motor performance change was considered. Positive and negative vicarious reinforcement effects were the most apparent in the high-control/low-nurturance group; the lowcontrol/high-nurturance group demonstrated the least expected effects of vicarious reinforcement.