Abstract
This study introduces the construct of "perceived containment" (PC) which is defined as the child's sense that adult caregivers can and will provide consequences that would negate any perceived benefits of antisocial behavior. Some basic psychopathic properties of a new measure called the Perceived Containment Questionnaire are presented. With a sample of aggressive children and prosocial children (N=237), PC was found to be negatively correlated with externalizing behaviors. Preliminary support was found for the hypothesis that PC is linked to callous-unemotional traits. Poor parenting practices were found to predict externalizing behaviors for children high in PC but not for children low in PC. Mother-child relationship quality was found to predict externalizing behaviors for children low in PC but not for children high in PC. These findings are interpreted in light of Kochanska's (1993) theory of socialization.
Schneider, William Joel (1999). The moderating influence of perceived containment on the relation between child externalizing behaviors and parenting practices. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1999 -THESIS -S36.