A Case Study of Parenting and Child Temperament :An Example of A Foster Family

• Main Authors: Tai, Lee-Mei, 戴立梅
• Other Authors: Tsai, Chiu-Tao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/24719613338156944971

博士 === 臺南師範學院 === 教師在職進修幼教碩士學位班 === 92 === The purpose of this study is to explore, through a case study of a foster child,the exhibited behavioral traits of child temperament, the interactive relationship between parent and child, parenting and its relation with the exhibited traits of child temperament, in order to provide reference for future research and foster parents'' rearing of young children according to their individual differences. The study adopts the purposive sampling method to select a foster family as the sample, and collects data of the case by way of multiple approaches including indepth interview, observation, temperament scale for young children and questionnaire for parenting. The findings of this study are as follows: 1. The exhibited traits of the sample child in this case in different dimensions of temperament are : (1)High level of activity, adaptability (except for new foods and adult strangers), persistence, distractibility, rhythmicity and intensity of reaction. (2)Approach/withdrawal: The child exhibits attitudes of withdrawal at initial contact with new foods and adult strangers, and take a long time to accept them gradually. However, he takes the attitude of acceptance towards beloved persons, things and objects. (3)The quality of mood is apt to be negative, i.e., unfriendly and angry, etc. (4)The level of threshold of responsiveness is fairly low. To sum up the analysis of the results regarding the different dimensions of the child’s temperament described above, the temperament pattern of the child in this case is categorized as“the intermediate type“ ,“the inhibited type ”,“the active type”and“the intermediate high type ” as proclaimed by domestic and foreign scholars. 2. Parenting approach of the foster parents towards the foster child: The parenting approach adopted by the foster father is majorly the approach of“neglection.”The approaches of “opposition” and “reasoning” are some- times used. “ Proper physical punishment ” is occasionally adopted.The major approach adopted by the foster mother is “reasoning.”Sometimes the removal—of— positive—reinforcement approach is used, such as“ the deprivation method” (retreat of love) and “time-out.”“ Proper physical punishment ” is also used occasionally. 3. Relationship between the foster child''s temperamental traits and the parenting approach of the foster parents: In response to the high-level activity of the foster child, the foster parents allow the child space and time for activity; in response to the temperamental traits of low threshold—of—responsiveness and over—reaction,the foster parents adopt the approaches of “ neglection ” (extinction), “ retreat of love ”(the deprivation method),“ time-out,”and“proper physical punishment”.Therefore, the parent-child relationship is sometimes tensive. 4. The interactive relationship between the foster parents and the foster child: There is less intimate contact between the parents and the child, and the interaction between the foster mother and the child is even less, especially. Finally, based on the results of the study, the author proposes concrete suggestions for parent education of foster parents, social welfare institutes in charge of placement service of fostering, as well as future research.