title: Self-Other Differentiation and the Mother-Child Relationship: The Effects of Sex and Birth Order.
abstract: We examined the effect of sex and birth order on the experience of a separate sense of self and its connection to mothers' differential involvement with sons and daughters. Results from two samples of college-age students are reported. Men showed a more separate sense of self than women, and mothers were reported to be more highly involved with and intrusive in the lives of their daughters than their sons. Results for birth order were consistent though not always statistically significant: First-born women had the least separate sense of self and reported the greatest degree of maternal involvement and intrusiveness. Implications of these findings for developmental theory and criteria of Psychological well-being are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Amherst College , USA.
authors.forename: Rose R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Olver
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Amherst College , USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aries
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Amherst College , USA.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batgos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001722:Birth Order; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult