This study examined the relationship between either mothers' (Grandmother; GM) or fathers' (Grandfather; GF) parenting in the mothers' childhood, and the present mothers' sensitivity toward their infants. Also, examined were the influence of either mothers' (GM) or fathers' (GF) parenting in the mothers' childhood and the existence of positive important others on recent mothers' sensitivity to their infants. The participants were 100 pairs of infant (the stage of starting baby food～8months old) and their mothers. Mothers' (Grandmother; GM) and fathers' (Grandfather; GF) parenting, and the existence of positive important others were rated and judged on the basis of the mothers' interview, and the mothers' sensitivity was rated on the basis of the videotaped mothers-infants interactions (feeding and playing) in their homes.

　　It was found that better the either mothers' (GM) or fathers' (GF) parenting in the mothers' childhood, the higher recent the mothers' sensitivity to their infants. In addition, mothers who have both mothers' (GM) negative parenting in the mothers' childhood and the positive important others in the mothers' childhood had higher sensitivity than mothers who have both mothers' (GM) negative parenting in mothers' childhood and nobody positive important in the mothers' childhood. Generally, it was suggested that though relations between parents' parenting in the mothers' childhood and the present mothers' sensitivity to their infants was found. Also, the existence of positive important others in the mothers' childhood is useful for mothers who have mothers' (GM) negative parenting in the mothers' childhood in heightening the mothers' sensitivity to their infants.

　　The purpose of this research is (1) to find out whether differences in roles of mothers and fathers that are caused by family structure (on the premises of having working mothers) are recognized or not. Common characteristics in categorized groups are also examined here. This research is also aimed at (2) examining correlations with patterns of manners while holding infants, and a couple's role in child rearing. I have performed behavioral observations and interview surveys in natural and spontaneous situations with seven married couples (14 people) who have infants. The observations and interviews were performed at the first period (infant 1～2 months old) and the second period (infant 6～7month old). As I categorized patterns of manners while holding infants (analysis 1), two groups for the first period (a wide variation group 1, and a fixed variation group 1) and three groups for the second period (a wide variation group 2, a fixed variation group 2, and a playing group) were found. Most of the mothers'patterns while holding manners belong to the fixed variation group, and I found little individual variation. The fathers' patterns while holding manners were divided into three groups, and individual variations were recognized. The differences in roles of mothers and fathers that are caused by family structure did not explain the patterns of mothers' and fathers' holding manners. As a result of examining correlations with patterns of manners while holding infants and the couples' role taking in child rearing, I found three unique agreements in the couples' roles in child rearing.

　　The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between reminiscences of Care House Residents for the Aged and psychological adaptation, and to examine the efficacy of reminiscences as a psychological approach.

　　A sample of 152 Care House Residents (ages 60-96 years, with an average age of 77.4 years) completed questionnaires including the Japanese Reminiscence Function Scale for the Elderly (JRFSE) and the Life Satisfaction Index K(LSIK). By cluster analysis, the obtained samples were classified into 4 types of reminiscence and named the “Positive type”, the “Negative type”, the “Ambivalent type”, and the “Narrative type”. Psychological adaptation of the “positive type” seems better, and the “Negative type” is apparently connected with the psychological maladjustive state.

　　On the basis of whot these findings suggest, suggestion, interviews using the individual reminiscence on the “negative type” were conducted. Consequently, the rating value of the item of “Positive reminiscence” and “Life satisfaction index” changed greatly, and it is possible that individual reminiscence was effective.

　　Findings from these changes pointed out the significance of taking the approach of increasing “Positive reminiscence” for the “negative type”, and not to persist in fixed theme when subjccts have times and events they don't want to reminisce about. Moreover, to cope with “uneasiness in a prospective view” which the Care House Residents hold, it was considered important that the staff of various occupations be cooperative.

　　Interjection and silence have long been investigated in phonetics or from the viewpoint of semantics viewpoint. But the purpose of this study is to investigate interjection and silence from systems theory and a pragmatical viewpoint. Systems theory considers human interaction as system. There are two levels of systems: the interpersonal system and the conversational system. The interpersonal system is defined by relationships among persons. The conversational system is defined by verbal or/and nonverbal communication in conversation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the interpersonal system and the conversational system, and to investigate self-regulatory function in problem-talked situations. Subjects were ten couples who were in their twenties. They were asked to chat (controlled condition) and to talk through a problem that had not been resolved (problem condition) with their partners. The results were as follows: in the problem condition, they used interjection and silence more than in the controlled condition. These results confirmed that interjection and silence worked toward continuing the conversational system passively, there by maintaining the interpersonal system, and that this phenomenon has a self-regulatory function.