Videotaped family interaction: differences reflecting presence and type of child disturbance.

An analysis was made of behavior demonstrated during videotaped family interaction in an unstructured situation (interpreted as interpersonally stressful). Twenty families contained a disturbed child (aggressive, socially withdrawn, or distractible); 10 were normal control families. Repeated judgments were made on evaluative, directing, and activity dimensions. Analyses of covariance (covariate: amount of talking) showed significant differences between fathers but not mothers or children. Fathers of "normal" children were evaluatively neutral and nondirecting (suggesting low attempts to control others) and untalkative (suggesting social independence). Fathers of "disturbed" children showed "controlling" and/or "dependent" behavior: fathers of distractible children were evaluatively extreme and talkative; fathers of withdrawn children were neutral, nondirecting, and talkative; fathers of aggressive children were negatively extreme, directing, and untalkative.