Indulge

Bettelheim, Bruno. (1987). A good enough parent: A book on child-rearing. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Author stresses that parents should not indulge the impulse to create the child they would like to have, but to facilitate the child to develop into the person he or she wishes to become.  Additionally, parents are encouraged to develop their own insights into child-rearing and learn to comprehend the behavior of children. 

Bharadwaj, R. (1995). Developing of parenting scale. Indian Journal of Psychometry & Education, 26(2), 109-112.

Reports on the development of a scale to measure the perceptions of the child to either the mother the father or both parents. Areas covered include: rejection vs. acceptance, neglect vs. indulgence, and freedom vs. discipline.

Boshier, R. & Izard, A. (1972). Do conservative parents use harsh child-rearing practices? Psychological Reports, 31(3), 734.

Reports on the testing of the question of whether or not conservative parents use harsh child-rearing practices.  Significant correlations were found between conservatism, rejection, indulgence, and domination in New Zealand mothers. 

Chen, X., Liu, M., & Li, D. (2000). Parental warmth, control, and indulgence and their relations to adjustment in Chinese children: A longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 14(3), 401-419.

A two year longitudinal study with children at age twelve in the People’s Republic of China.  The children’s self reports provided data on parental warmth, control, and indulgence with results indicating that parenting styles might be a function of child gender and change with age.

Fodor, E. M. (1971). Resistance to social influence among adolescents as a function of level of moral development. Journal of Social Psychology, 85(1), 121-126.

An assessment of adolescent boys, their level of moral development, and their perception of their mothers.  Those who scored higher on moral judgment perceived their mothers as having given them greater autonomy in their personal lives.  However, no differences between groups in maternal indulgence were found. 

Gaden, C. L. (1996). The meaning and value of grandparenting in later life. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 56, 12-B, p. 7062.

Study focused on the relationship between grandparents perceived meaning of grandparenting and his or her psychological well-being.  Five aspects of grandparenting including centrality and indulgence are measured through a questionnaire. 

Growe, G. A. (1980). Parental behavior and self-esteem in children. Psychological Reports, 47(2), 499-502.

Fifth and sixth graders were administered the Self-Esteem Inventory and the Cornell Parent Behavior Description.  Correlations between self-esteem and dimensions of parental behavior including, rejection, indulgence, and autonomy indicated that parental behavior was more highly related to boy’s than girls self-esteem.

Sivulich, Stephen. (1975). Who is to blame for deviant college behavior? College Student Journal, 9(2), 157-161.

Article examines the problem of deviant behavior of college students.  Asserts that causes of deviant student behavior is complex and includes parental indulgence and overprotection, peer pressure, and failure by the college administration to proved adequate counseling and advice.

Kivnick, H. Q. (1983). Dimensions of grandparenthood meaning: Deductive conceptualization and empirical derivation. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 44(5), 1056-1068.

A discussion of the development of a multidimensional conceptualization of the meaning of grandparenting.  Five dimensions of grandparenthood meaning are assess and includes, indulgence and attitudes of lenience toward grandchildren.

Kivetz, R., & Zheng, Y. (2006). Determinants of justification and self-control. Journal of  Experimental Psychology, 135(4), 572-587.

This study measured vice verses virtue and the relationship between high effort, low effort, or money and the choice to choose between a vice or virtue. The higher the effort the person put forth, more likely he or she would choose a vice reward. When effort was put forth, it was easier to justify vices, whereas money made it harder to justify vices. This further illustrated that indulging is justified easier if the person sees it as a rare event.

Lau, S., Lew, W. J., Hau, K., Cheung, P. C. et al. (1990). Relations among perceived parental control, warmth, indulgence, and family harmony of Chinese in mainland China. Developmental Psychology, 26(4), 674-677.

An examination of adult perceptions of parental control, warmth, indulgence and family harmony among educated Chinese in mainland China.  Results indicate that less perceived parental control and greater parental warmth were related to greater perceived family harmony.

Laughlin, Charles D. (1989). Pre- and perinatal anthropology: A selective review. Pre- & Peri-Natal Psychology Journal, 3(4), 261-296.

A review of the cross cultural literature of methodological biases of anthropology in pre- and preinatal psychology.  Topics discussed are the importance of caretakers other than the mother, importance of birth order, infant indulgence, language, and communication.

Munroe, R. H., & Munroe, R. L. (1980). Infant experience and childhood affect among the Logoli: A longitudinal study. Ethos, 8(4), 295-315.

An investigation of infant care and the relation to later affective development in Logoli of Western Kenya.  Variants of indulgence such as, mother-holding, number of caretakers, and degree of protection from environmental discomfort correlated strongly with positive affective responses in childhood. 

Nissen, G. (1974). Play disturbances at pre-school age as precursors to learning difficulties of children and adolescents. Acta Paedopsychiatrica: International Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(6), 214-220.

Examines play disturbances in childhood.  Shows that play disturbances in the 50 children studied are influenced by early emotional frustration, professional employment of both parents, and extreme indulgence.

Orgel, S. Z. (1968). Delinquency. Samiksa, 22(3), 81-86.

An examination of two types of delinquents including those who are receiving too little love and an excess of indulgence and those with normal conflicts in their childhood development of emotional attachment.

Paitich, D., &  Langevin, R. (1976). The Clarke Parent-Child Relations Questionnaire: A clinically useful test for adults. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 44(3), 428-436.

Report of the use of the Clarke Parent-Child Relations Questionnaire in two different studies.  Using factor analysis one study showed the factors contrasted aggressiveness and strictness at one pole with affection and indulgence at the other.

Ritchie, J., & Ritchie, J. (1983). Polynesian child rearing: An alternative model. Alternative Lifestyles, 5(3), 126-141.

Literature review on childrearing practices and family style in Polynesia.  Five themes of Polynesian cultures are identified: community responsibility for the care of children, multiple parenting, early indulgence, early independence, and caretaking by sibling and peers.

Rodgers, R. R. (1971). Changes in parental behavior reported by children in West Germany and the United States. Human Development, 14(3), 208-224.

Investigated changes in the family as a social system using the Cornell Parent Behavior Description questionnaire with sixth graders from Germany and America.  The prediction was that there would be a trend of decreases in “traditional” behaviors of nurturance, physical punishment, and prescription of responsibilities and an increase in “modern” behaviors such as achievement demands, instrumental companionship, and indulgence.  The hypothesis was partially supported.

Sollenberger, R. T. (1968). Chinese-American child rearing practices and juvenile delinquency. Journal of Social Psychology, 74(1), 13-23.

An exploration of the low delinquency rate in Chinatown, New York City.  Intensive interviews of Chinese-American mothers on child rearing along with personal observations are conducted.  One conclusion is that the integrated family and indulgence of the child for the first six years keeps the child’s frustration to a minimum.

Tang, N. M. (1992). Some psychoanalytic implications of Chinese philosophy and child-rearing practices. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 47, 371-389.

An examination of Chinese philosophy regarding beliefs about the nature of humanity, the ideal person, and general world view.  Chinese child rearing practices mentioned include the indulgence of the child, high expectations early on, and instilment of duty to the family.

Turner, P. H. & Harris, M. B.(1984). Parental attitudes and preschool children's social competence. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 144(1), 105-113.

Examination of the association between parental attitudes toward childrearing and preschool children’s social competence.  Finding indicate that parental indulgence and protectiveness were associated with higher scores on child’s self concept, vocabulary, and empathy.  However, not all correlations were found to be significant.

Weisner, T. S., & Gallimore, R. (1977). My brother's keeper: Child and sibling caretaking. Current Anthropology, 18(2, 169-190.

A cross cultural review of children acting as caretakers for other children.  These instances vary in frequency, relationship to parental caretaking, and degree of indulgence.

Woodward, L., Dowdney, L., & Taylor, E. (1997). Child and family factors influencing the clinical referral of children with hyperactivity: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines, 38(4) 479-485.

Examined child and family factors associated with clinical referral of hyperactive children.  Results indicate that predictors of determining whether a child with hyperactivity will be referred to a clinic includes: parents ability to cope, child emotional disturbance, and parental disciplinary indulgence.

Bala, P., &  Upadhaya, K. (1992). Child rearing attitudes of employed and unemployed mothers. Journal of Personality & Clinical Studies, 8(1-2), 157-160.

A test of whether employed and unemployed mothers would differ significantly in their childrearing attitudes.  No difference was found between the two groups on rejecting and indulgent attitudes.

Baldwin, A. L. (1946). Differences in parent behavior toward three- and nine-year-old children. Journal of Personality. 15, 143-165.

Parents of three year olds and parents of nine years olds were rated using the Parent Behavior Rating Scales.  Results indicate that parents of nine year olds tend to be less warm, intellectually stimulating, and less indulgent. 

Bulkley, J. (2001).  Culture's influence on parents and children: The role of ethnicity in parenting and child competence in African-American and European-American families. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 61, 9-B, p. 5025.

An examination of the role of ethnicity in parenting and child adjustment with a sample of socially and academically successful middle-class European-American and African-American adolescents and their parents. Little evidence was found to support differences between parenting styles (indulgent, uninvolved, authoritative, and authoritarian).

Cohen, E., & Lwow, E. (2004). The parent-child mutual recognition model: Promoting responsibility and cooperativeness in disturbed adolescents who resist treatment [Electronic version]. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 14(3), 307-322.

In a sub-group of families with troubled and resistant youth it appeared family interaction involved anxious parenting practices expressed by indulgent, overprotective, or overcontrolling acts.  The adolescents often reacted inappropriately to this which increased parental anxiety which further increased the indulgent, overprotective, or overcontrolling behavior thus creating a cycle within the family.

Constantin, L. P. (1996).  Family ritual behavior examined in the context of parenting styles and the prediction of adolescent psychosocial adjustment. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 57, 1-B, p. 0720.

An investigation of family rituals and parenting styles in order to help determine if family rituals are the process though which families functions adapt or if they are an indicator of healthy family functioning.  Authoritative families were found to have rituals that were more meaningful than those of indulgent families. 

Durbin, D. L., Darling, N., Steinberg, L., & Brown, B. B. (1993). Parenting style and peer group membership among European-American adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 3(1),87-100.

An examination of adolescents peer group orientation and parenting style.  Boys who characterized their parents as indulgent were more likely to be oriented towards crowds that were characterized by fun-culture or the “partyers”.

Dusek, J. B,. & Danko, M. (1994). Adolescent coping styles and perceptions of parental child rearing. Journal of Adolescent Research, 9(4), 412-426.

An investigation of adolescent coping styles to parental rearing practices.  Adolescents were classified into authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, or neglectful groups based on their perceptions of their parents’ rearing practices.  The children were compared from each group on their coping style.   

Feinman, J. (2001). Church attendance, family structure, parenting style and antisocial behavior of Black and Latino urban adolescents. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 62, 3-B, p. 1615.

Reports on a longitudinal study of the effects of church attendance and family structure on the relationship between parenting style and antisocial behavior in Black and Latino urban adolescents.  For boys, indulgent parenting increased risk for anti-social behavior. 

Feldman, S. S., & Brown, N. L. (1993). Family influences on adolescent male sexuality: The mediational role of self-restraint. Social Development, 2(1), 15-35.

An examination of self-restraint in sexual behavior and family relationships in boys studied in sixth grade and again in tenth grade.  Indulgent parenting was associated with sexual activity.

Fletcher, A. C., Steinberg, L., &  Sellers, E. B. (1999). Adolescents' well-being as a function of perceived interparental consistency. Journal of Marriage & the Family, 61(3), 599-610.

An examination of high school students’ perception of parental responsiveness and demandingness and their academic achievement and engagement in problem behavior.  Parents were classified as authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, or indifferent.  Adolescents were compared from homes of each parenting style. 

Forrisi, M. (1996).  Adolescent abuse: An exploration of the effects of time of onset and parental disciplinary styles. Dissertation Abstracts International,  Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 56,12-B, p. 7044.

An examination of the relationship between age of onset for abuse and parental disciplinary styles.  It was hypothesized that a higher percent of childhood onset abuse would occur in more authoritarian families and adolescent onset of abuse would occur in more indulgent families.  The hypothesis was not supported. 

Glynn, T. J., Haenlein, M. (1988). Family theory and research on adolescent drug use: A review. Journal of Chemical Dependency Treatment, 1(2), 39-56.

A literature review on families with a drug abusing member.  Consistent patterns identified in these families include a dominant mother who is overindulgent and overprotective.

Gordon, L. C. (2000). Linking gender differences in parenting to a typology of family parenting styles and adolescent developmental outcomes. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A, Humanities & Social Sciences, 60, 11-A,  p. 4196.

Examines various research questions regarding gender, parenting typology, and parenting styles.  Data from the sample of families suggest that an indulgent style of parenting is very common.

Lamborn, S. D., Mounts, N. S., Steinberg, L., & Dornbusch, S. M. (1991). Patterns of competence and adjustment among adolescents from authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and neglectful families. Child Development, 62(5), 1049-1065.

A test of a revision of D. Baumrind’s conceptual framework by classifying families into authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent or neglectful categories and  comparing the adolescents’ self-conceptions and psychological well-being.  Support was found for the revision.

Romero, G. M. (1995). Mothers' cognitions, affect, and behavioral strategies in specific parenting situations. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 56, 5-B, p. 2883.

An exploration of the relationship among situation-specific cognitions, affect, and behavioral strategies of mothers in two compliance situations with their children.  An analysis was conducted with behavioral strategies (indulgent, cooperative, coercive), type of event, and mothers’ cognitions.

Stewart, R. S. (1950). Personality maladjustment and reading achievement. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 20, 410-417.

Children of markedly dissimilar reading achievement were examined and many more of those with inferior reading skills had parents who were more indulgent and overprotective.

Tavoulareas-Karahalios, Mary. The relationship among parenting styles, level of maternal depressive symptomotology and adjustment of preadolescent boys. (2000).  Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 60(12-B), p. 6386.

An investigation of approaches to parenting for child psychological adjustment with the presence of maternal depression.  Boys of depressed-authoritative mothers demonstrated fewer socializing problems than boys of depressed-indulgent and depressed-neglectful mothers combined.

Wallis, D. A. (1999). Reactive parenting: A study of the cognitive and emotional antecedents of parenting behaviors. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B, The Sciences & Engineering, 60(1-B), p. 0393.

An investigation of Reactive Parenting in a population of parent of children six to twelve.  Parents determined to be Reactive Parents reported being less disciplinarily and more indulgent with there children than their parents.

Watson, G. (1957). Some personality differences in children related to strict or permissive parental discipline. Journal of Psychology, 44, 227-249.

An investigation of differences in self-control, inner security, happiness, socialization and cooperation in children from indulgent families and children from strict families.  Significant differences were found for some characteristics.

Willerman, L. & Plomin, R. (1973). Activity level in children and their parents. Child Development, 44(4), 854-858.

Questionnaires concerning activity-level and child-rearing were administered to mothers and fathers of nursery school children.  Mothers and fathers of active boys were found to be less protective and indulgent.

Wyatt, F. (1969). Motives of rebellion: Psychological comments on the crisis of authority among students. Humanitas, 4(3), 355-373.

Article asserts that young people at universities who rebel are motivated to do so by the need to affirm their autonomy and individual significance.  Article also discusses the relation of indulgent parents and these cases.

Zern, D. (1970). The influence of certain child-rearing factors upon the development of a structured and salient sense of time. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 8(2), 197-254.

A report on a cross-cultural and longitudinal study of individuals that tested the hypothesis that indulgent child-rearing patterns lead to the development of undifferentiated send of time and indifference to structuring the time dimension.  The hypothesis was confirmed in two investigations.

Achenreiner, G. B. (1997). Materialistic values and susceptibility to influence in children. Advances in Consumer Research, 24, 82-88.

The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine the materialistic attitudes of children across a wide age span using a large sample and a multi-item materialism scale and (2) to examine the relationship between materialistic attitudes in children and susceptibility to peer group influence. Results appear to indicate materialism is a fairly stable trait over time and there was a positive correlation between materialism and susceptibility to peer influence.

Buijzen, M., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2003). The effects of television advertising on materialism, parent-child conflict, and unhappiness: A review of research. Applied Developmental Psychology, 24, 437-456.

This review of previous research focuses on three possible harmful effects of television advertising: materialism, parent-child conflict, and unhappiness. A positive correlation was found between television advertising and materialism; a positive but small to moderate, correlation was found with television advertising and parent-child conflict; and research on television advertising and happiness is not developed enough to make any causal statements.

Buijzen, M., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2003). The unintended effects of television advertising: A parent-child survey. Communication Research, 30(5), 483-503.

This study aimed to revitalize research on the unintended effects of advertising and to re-investigate whether and how television advertising is related to materialism, parent-child conflict, and unhappiness. Results indicate children who frequently watched television commercials held stronger materialistic values. Advertising exposure lead to increased purchase requests from children which lead to increased parent-child conflict. Results did not find any direct relationship between advertising and disappointment or dissatisfaction with life.

Burroughs, J. E., & Rindfleisch, A. (1997). Materialism as a coping mechanism: An inquiry into family disruption [Electronic version]. Advances in Consumer Research, 24, 89-97.

The authors propose that children and young adults develop an enhanced level of materialism as a way of coping with family disruption.  Two studies were performed that indicated materialism may act as a moderator of the relationship between family structure and family stress. Material values positively related to family stress for children from intact families and negatively related to family stress among children of divorced or separated parents.

Burroughs, J. E., & Rindfleisch, A. (2002). Materialism and well-being: A conflicting values perspective [Electronic version]. Journal of Consumer Research, 29(3), 348-370.

Materialism’s detrimental effects are suggested to be conditional on one’s overall value system. Research results indicate materialism is negatively associated with collective-oriented values, associated with increased conflict and stress among individuals with high collective-oriented values and the tension mediates the relationship between materialism and subjective well-being for individuals with high collective-oriented values.

Chaplin, L. N., & John, D. R. (2005). Materialism in children and adolescents: The role of the developing self-concept [Electronic version]. Advances in Consumer Research, 32, 219-220.

This article is an extended abstract about a study that addressed the gap in understanding how materialism develops in children and adolescents. Materialism was found to be heightened in the middle age group studied (i.e., 7th/8th graders) and levels of materialism significantly decrease during late adolescence rather than staying constant through adolescence.  Results also suggest that self-esteem is intricately tide to a child’s level of materialism.

Clark, P. W., Martin, C. A., & Bush, A. J. (2001). The effect of role model influence on adolescents’ materialism and marketplace knowledge [Electronic version]. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 9(4), 27-36.

This research utilizes social learning as a conceptual guide to understanding how role models influence marketing related attitudes and knowledge of adolescents. Results show that each direct role model (i.e., parent, teacher) has a significant influence either on an adolescent’s marketplace knowledge or materialism.  There was a significant positive correlation between athlete role model influence and adolescent materialism but no significant influence was found for entertainers on adolescent materialism.

Comer, J. P. (1971). Child development and social change: Some points of controversy. Journal of Negro Education, 40(3), 266-276.

Article asserts that the average developmental experiences in America do not contribute heavily to the causes of serious social problems and that the reduction of classism and materialism rests more on political action than on changing child development approaches.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1999). If we are so rich, why aren’t we happy? [Electronic version].  American Psychologist, 54(10), 821-827.

It is commonly thought that more money equals happiness. The author shows that this is not the case for several reasons: (1) people will always want more; (2) people feel poor in comparison to those above them; (3) material awards alone will not equal happiness; and (4) initially material rewards may enhance the quality of life but become harmful in large doses. The author offers alternative suggestions to finding happiness.

Dittmar, H. (2005). Compulsive buying – a growing concern? An examination of gender, age, and endorsement of materialistic values as predictors [Electronic version]. British Journal of Psychology, 96, 467-491.

Materialistic value endorsement, age, and gender were examined through two studies as possible factors that make individuals more vulnerable to compulsive buying.  Variables measured included aspects of compulsive buying and materialistic values. Results indicate women and younger consumers are more affected; materialistic value endorsement was also found to be the strongest predictor of compulsive buying.

Flouri, E. (1999). An integrated model of consumer materialism: Can economic socialization and maternal values predict materialistic attitudes in adolescents? Journal of Socio-Economics, 28(6), 707-724.

Examines a model of development of materialism within the context of family socialization and the impact of parental values and styles.  Materialism was not found to differ significantly according to family structure.

Flouri, E. (1999). An integrated model of consumer materialism: Can economic socialization and maternal values predict materialistic attitudes in adolescents? [Electronic version]. Journal of Socio-Economics, 28, 707-724.

The purpose of this study was to propose an integrated model of the development of materialism in the specific context of family socialization and impact of parental values and parental styles.  Materialism in adolescents was predicted from their mothers’ materialism and adolescents’ religiosity, neuroticism, and susceptibility to peer influence.

Flouri, E. (2004). Exploring the relationship between mothers’ and fathers’ parenting practices and children’s materialist values [Electronic version]. Journal of Economic Psychology, 25, 743-752.

This research explored the relationship between parenting practices and children’s materialist values. Results indicate children’ perception of inter-parental conflict positively related to children’s materialism; children’s assessed mother involvement was negatively related to children’s materialism; and psychological maladjustment and goal-directedness was positively related to adolescent materialism.  Overall parenting was shown to be significantly related to materialism in children.

Goldberg, M. E., Gorn, G. J., Peracchio, L. A., & Bamossy, G. (2003). Understanding materialism among youth [Electronic version].  Journal of Consumer Psychology, 13(3), 278-288.

This paper describes the development of the Youth Materialism Scale. This scale tries to better understand youths’ orientation toward purchasing, responses to marketing initiatives, interplay in the marketplace between youth and their parents, and broader issues such as general happiness and liking for school. Youth ages 9-14 were the focus of this study. The results of this research support the notion that parents transmit values onto children; no relationship was found between materialism and happiness.

Grunberg, N. E., Maycock, V. A., & Anthony, B. J. (1985). Material altruism in children [Electronic version]. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 6(1), 1-11.

Two field studies were performed to assess the material altruism in children. Study one focused on money and study two focused on another material object (candy). Results indicate children around age 7 are less altruistic than both younger and older children. It was noted that based on the results one cannot generalize about material altruism because the objects used may be special cases.

Kasser, T. , & Ahuvia, A. (2002). Materialistic values and well-being in business students [Electronic version]. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32, 137-146.

Singaporean business students were examined for a relationship between high extrinsic materialist aims and lower subject well being. Results indicate those who strongly internalize materialistic values suffer from lower well-being and greater distress.

Kasser, T., & Kasser, V. G. (2001). The dreams of people high and low in materialism  [Electronic version]. Journal of Economic Psychology, 22, 693-719.

Dreams of people high and low in materialism were investigated for themes of insecurity, poor relationships, and fragile self-esteem. High materialism was linked to dream reports of falling or death and family conflict and role reversal. Low in materialism was linked to similar dreams but individuals often confronted and sometimes conquered their underlying insecurities in these dreams.

Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (1993). A dark side of the American dream: Correlates of financial success as a central life aspiration [Electronic version]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(2), 410-422.

Three studies were done investigating the relationship between well-being and the relative centrality of the four domains of aspiration (self-acceptance, affiliation, community feeling, and financial success). High central financial success aspirations were associated with less self-actualization, less vitality, more depression, and more anxiety.  Less adjustment was consistently found for individuals who held financial success as a more central aspiration than self-acceptance, affiliation, or community feeling.

Kasser, T., Ryan, R. M., Zax, M., & Sameroff, A. J. (1995). The relations of maternal and social environments to late adolescents’ materialistic and prosocial value [Electronic version]. Developmental Psychology, 31(6), 907-914.

This study examines the idea that people who highly value financial success, relative to prosocial values have experienced maternal and social environments that are less supportive of growth, self-expression, and intrinsic needs.  Results indicate materially oriented individuals had mothers who were lower on an index of nurturance, were likely to come from lower socioeconomic circumstances.  Mothers also tended to pass their own materialistic values on to their children.

Keng, K. A., Jung, K., Jiuan, T. S., & Wirtz, J. (2000). The influence of materialistic inclination on values, life satisfaction, and aspirations: An empirical analysis [Electronic version]. Social Indicators Research, 49(3), 317-333.

The authors studied issues confronted by an Asian society including how materialism might influence levels of aspirations and satisfaction with life in general and particularly in Singapore. Individuals low in materialism were more likely to treasure love, security, friendship and peace of mind; individuals high in materialism were more likely to value success, wealth, social status, and power. Results show individuals higher in materialism were significantly less satisfied with life.

Richins, M. L. (2004). The material values scale: Measurement properties and development of a short form [Electronic version]. Journal of Consumer Research, 31(1), 209-219.

The Materialistic Values Scale is evaluated and a short form of the scale is developed using three studies. Study one evaluated the Materialistic Values Scale; study two performed an item analysis and developed a short scale; and study three produced a cross-validation of the Materialistic Values short scales.

Richins, M. L., & Dawson, S. (1992). A consumer values orientation for materialism and its measurement: Scale development and validation [Electronic version]. Journal of Consumer Research, 19(3), 303-316.

The material values scale was developed to measure materialism among individuals rather than as a group. The scale measures acquisition centrality, the role of acquisition in the pursuit of happiness, and the role of possessions in defining success. The scale showed acceptable reliability and preliminary validity tests were successful.

Rindfleisch, A., Burroughs, J. E., & Denton, F. (1997). Family structure, materialism, and compulsive consumption. Journal of Consumer Research, 23(4), 312-325.

Examines how alternative family forms influence consumer behavior.  Article asserts that young adults from disrupted families are more materialistic and demonstrate higher levels of compulsive consumption than young adults from intact families.

Rindfleisch, A., & Burroughs, J. E. (1999) Materialism and childhood satisfaction: A social structural analysis [Electronic version]. Advances in Consumer Research, 26, 519-526.

This research explored the moderating impact of family structures on the relationship between materialism and satisfaction with one’s childhood. Results suggest the relationship between materialism and well-being is moderated by an individual’s social structure. Materialism was negatively correlated with father satisfaction in intact families and positively correlated with father satisfaction in disrupted families. Overall results imply that one’s family, religion and culture may influence the impact of materialism on well-being.

Shervington, W. W. (1986). The Black family: Clinical overview. American Journal of Social Psychiatry, 6(1), 6-10.

A presentation of a clinical overview of the black family based on the author’s training and clinical practice.  Includes a description of unique damage to children in black families due to material and emotional indulgence and lack of proper limit setting and discipline.

Troisi, J. D., Christopher, A. N., & Marek, P. (2006). Materialism and money spending disposition as predictors of economic and personality variables. North American Journal of Psychology, 8(3), 421-436.

Study distinguishes between types of materialistic people as well as views on spending money. Results showed that those who wanted to save money and were also highly materialistic were more likely to negatively view debt. Individual differences in materialism and value of money viewpoints were also discussed.

Wong, N., Rindfleisch, A., & Burroughs, J. E. (2003). Do reverse-worded items confound measures in cross-cultural consumer research? The case of the material values scale [Electronic version]. Journal of Consumer Research, 30(1), 72-91.

The material values scale was tested in five cultures to see if it could be applied cross-culturally. The mixed-word format of the scale interferes with the results in cultures other than the United States. By adapting the material values scale statements into nondirectional questions many of the interferences improves.

 Misbehaving

Mogenson, G. (1989). Act your age: A strategic approach to helping children change. Journal of Strategic & Systemic Therapies, 8(2-3), 52-55.

An outline of an alternative to enabling behaviors that parents indulge when they perceive their child as misbehaving.  An interactional pattern between therapist and child is discussed and applied to four case studies.