title: Parents behaving badly: Gender biases in the perception of parental alienating behaviors.
abstract: According to gender role theory, individuals who confirm expectations associated with their gender roles are rewarded and judged against these expectations when they deviate. Parental roles are strongly tied to gender, and there are very different expectations for behaviors of mothers and fathers. This study examined how mothers' and fathers' behaviors that support or discourage a positive relationship with the other parent are perceived in terms of their acceptability. Two-hundred twenty-eight parents completed an online survey assessing perceptions of acceptability of negative (parental alienating) and positive coparenting behaviors. Results provided support for our hypothesis: Although parental alienating behaviors were rated unacceptable, they were more acceptable for mothers than fathers. Expectancy violation theory can explain why parental alienating behaviors are not viewed as negatively when mothers exhibit them than fathers. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: Department of Psychology, Colorado State University.
authors: Jennifer J
authors: JJ
authors: Harman
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University.
authors: Zeynep
authors: Z
authors: Biringen
authors: Department of Psychology, Colorado State University.
authors: Ellen M
authors: EM
authors: Ratajack
authors: Department of Psychology, Colorado State University.
authors: Pearl L
authors: PL
authors: Outland
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University.
authors: Allyson
authors: A
authors: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior