Abstract
The present study examined changes in maternal behavior in three mother-child dyads. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews of children (all first-borns) ages 21 to 36 months old, and analyzed from the viewpoints of children's problems as recognized by the mothers, and the mothers' framework. When children's negativism and self-assertion became stronger, their mothers tried to control them. However, it was difficult to control children's behavior when children reached their peak of negativism, and the psychological pressure on mothers increased. The synchrony of developmental changes in the children and mothers reduced the psychological pressure on mothers. Although the problems were different in each case, the pattern of change that emerged in mother-child's dyadic systems was similar. These results reflected a reorganization of the system consisting of the mothers' behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.
