Developmental Expectations of Dutch,Turkish-Dutch,and Zambian Mothers: Towards an Explanation of Cross-cultural Differences

Abstract

In this study, three models of cross-cultural differences of developmental expectations by parents were examined. The domain dependence model holds that differences vary across psychological domains such as perception and cognition. The cumulative differences model states that cross-cultural differences increase with age. The context variables model holds that cross-cultural differences in developmental expectations are mainly a function of background variables such as differences in parental education. The expectations of mothers in three different cultures were examined. Sixty eight Dutch, 50 Turkish-Dutch (Turkish women living in The Netherlands), and 69 Zambian mothers were asked to indicate the expected age of mastery for each of 77 skills, covering a broad range of behaviours. Zambian mothers expected most skills to develop at a later age than did Dutch and Turkish-Dutch mothers. Partial support was obtained for each model. Tentative evidence was obtained that the domain dependence model could explain most and the cumulative differences model the least cross-cultural differences.

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