• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.103-121
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to explore Korean mothers' beliefs regarding their toddlers' temperament, including what they believe constitutes desirable and undesirable behavior, and their resulting reactions. Data were collected int the process of interviewing 50 Korean mothers of toddlers (whose average age was 34.1 Months, and of which 54% were boys). Results revealed that mothers considered 'High-Sociality', 'Positive Affect' and 'High-Effortful Control' as desirable temperaments, whereas 'Negative Affect', 'Under-Effortful Control' and 'Low Sociality' were considered to be undesirable temperaments for toddlers. Mothers cited the importance of child 'Sociality' and 'Development', 'Easiness of Parenting' and 'Child Happiness' as the reasons for their beliefs. While, they considered 'Negative Affect', 'Under-Effortful Control' and 'Low Sociality' to be undesirable temperaments, citing 'Sociality', 'Difficulty of Parenting', 'Development' and 'Child Safety' as the reasons. Finally, mothers were more likely to give verbal encouragement or physical encouragement such as hugging, in responding to desirable behavior on the part of their child, whereas they were more likely to give firm inhibition, reasoning or inconsistent reaction to their child's undesirable behavior. Many of the mothers' beliefs varied depending on the child's gender. Results were discussed in relation to cultural perspectives.