Achievement Motive of Four-Year-Olds and Maternal Achievement Expectancies

The relationship between achievement motive, as measured by tendency to resume a challenging task, and maternal expectancies regarding achievement was tested in a sample of 80 four-year-olds. Results indicated that the number, magnitude, and direction of relationship differed according to sex and social class variables. Boys and girls in the lower class tended to exhibit higher achievement motive when the mother indicated moderate, rather than extreme, expectancies. In the upper class, girls had higher achievement motive when mothers believed in early training for achievement and expressed controlling attitudes, while higher achievement motives in boys were associated with late ages for achievement-inducing. Reasons for differential conditioning effect of sex and social class are discussed.