Typically,
major differences lie in the scope of the
outcome, the stage of development at which it is expected, and the implicit proficiencies necessary
to achieve it at an exemplary level.
As expected, the responsiveness of the depressed mothers was generally poorer than that of the well controls; and when the nature of this early maternal interactive behaviour was considered, it was found
to account for the
differences in the cognitive
outcome at 9 and 18 months of the depressed and well mothers» infants.6 14 The interactive style associated with the occurrence of depression, therefore, rather than exposure
to depressive symptoms per se, carries the
major explanatory force.