An approach to family antecedents of field dependent-independent cognitive style based on Lautrey’s model

The psychological theory of differentiation of H. A. Witken et al (1954, 1962) predicts that family environments allow children to organize and structure their own experiences and foster a field-independent cognitive style. This prediction was confirmed by a study on the relationship between field dependence/independence (as measured by the Embedded Figures Test) and J. Lautrey’s (1980) model of Family Environment Structure in 91 children (aged 12–14 yrs). Ss from flexible family environments were more field-independent than those from rigidly structured families.